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What the hell? I text him back so furiously I’m giving autocorrect a workout.
What are you talking about?
I stab at my phone as I type. I never said Owen could use my laptop at all, let alone take it out of the apartment. Not that I’d ever expect him to do that. Does he even know my password?
My battery was too low. Needed to do some work, so I took yours.
You just took it without asking me?
Yeah. You don’t use it much.
I clench my phone tightly. He’s not even going to apologize? Why would he even want to use mine? His is newer and way faster. Owen used to make fun of my laptop sometimes for being secondhand, even though he knew it was all I could afford.
I can bring it by tonight.
I want to scream. Texting’s just not a satisfying enough way to express my frustration with him.
I need it right now. I have an interview.
I scowl at my phone. Why did I tell him my reason? He doesn’t need to know I have an interview. I don’t want Owen toknow a single thing about my life anymore. Now that I’ve finally gotten him out of my life, things are going to get so much better. He’d only try to hold me back, like he always did when we were together.
Tonight’s all I can do. I’m working right now.
I don’t believe for a single moment that he’s telling the truth. Even if he is, his coworking office is too far away for me to get to and get back in time for my meeting.
He’s typing some more but I ignore him and tap at Riley’s number.
“What’s up?” She asks anxiously before even saying hello. We only call each other for urgent news whether it’s good or bad, but I have zero time to text back and forth.
“I really need your help. Can I borrow your laptop?” I explain what’s up as fast as I can. “Owen took mine and he won’t bring it by until tonight.”
“Of course you can. He’s such an ass.” I can almost hear Riley rolling her eyes. She knows my ex all too well. She actually met him before he and I got together. She thought he was a nice guy and she sort of fixed us up. It was when we were out with a group that included him. She took me aside and told me he might be a great guy for me.
Owen seemed perfectly nice and decent at the time. Riley had no idea what he was truly like as a person. Neither did I. Not until the moment we moved in together.
What a huge mistake that was.
“Where are you?” I ask Riley, crossing my fingers that she’s not too far away as I spring up and grab my bag.
“I’m about to head to campus. I’ve got one of my big exams today, remember?”
“Right.” I’m calculating time as I rush out. “I can meet you halfway. Or at any subway stop that’s on your way. Once I’ve got your computer, I can go somewhere close by.”
Having a virtual meeting in a coffee shop isn’t really acceptable, but thanks to Owen it’s my only option now. I have to take this interview no matter what. I can only hope that if it’s noisy, I’ll be forgiven.
“I’d set you up at my place but all my roommates are here. You’ll have much better luck somewhere else. None of them like to use headphones,” Riley says.
“Yeah, no.” Riley’s place would be noisier than any coffee shop for sure. “Just tell me wherever’s good for you. I don’t want you to be late.” A thought strikes me as I lock the apartment door behind me. “Don’t you need your computer?”
“Not really. I’ll figure it out. Your interview’s way too important for you to try and do it by phone,” she says.
“You’re the best,” I tell Riley as I burst out of my building. I practically jog to the subway station as she and I work out the details. There’ll be just enough time for me to grab her computer and get myself set up somewhere without making either one of us late.
Once I’m on the subway, I realize my big mistake. I should’ve taken a cab. Too much can go wrong down here. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been on the train when it just stops randomly and everyone’s waiting and waiting with no idea of when it will start up again. Sometimes it takes thirty seconds. Sometimes more than thirty minutes. I can’t risk that today. What was I thinking?
I start to scroll around on my phone without taking anything in, desperately trying not to check the time every five seconds. I exhale in relief as the doors slide open. For once, there were no delays. Racing up the stairs, I almost crash into Riley at the top. She grins as she hands over her bag to me.
“You’re a life saver,” I say breathlessly as I catch her up in a quick hug. “Thank you so much.”
