Chapter 6
Andrew's voice was shaking with anger. "Maisy, Maisy, Maisy,how many times do I have to say it? She has a boyfriend. Why do you keep making such a big deal about her?
"It's been seven years, Aleeza. Do you really not trust me at all?"
I shook my head. "I just can't trust you. Andrew, do you seriously think there's not even a hint of a problem between you and Maisy?
His voice was hoarse. "If there was really something between us, would I still be waiting after all this time?"
"Fine," I said.
That night, he didn't go back to Maisy's room.
It was pouring rain, and the hour was so late that there wasn't a single cab to be found.
He wouldn't let me go home. Instead, he booked a room, and I crashed on the bed while he sat at the desk, working away on his laptop.
Maybe it wasn't the best setup. He kept frowning, speaking quietly into his phone as he sent voice messages again and again.
The light was a bit too bright, so I buried myself under the covers, leaving just a small gap to breathe.
He glanced over, switched off the light, dimmed his laptop screen, and turned it away from me.
I couldn't sleep. I rolled over and looked at him. He was staring at his laptop, lost in thought, or maybe just zoning out.
Or maybe his mind was on someone else, someone in the other room.
I couldn't tell.
"Can't sleep?" Andrew spoke up suddenly.
His voice shattered the quiet, making me jump,my whole body jerking in surprise.
He laughed again, a soft chuckle.
"It's been pretty chaotic," he said.
After that, his smile faded. He pressed his fingers to his brow and let out a long sigh.
*****
I couldn't even tell what time it was anymore.
Someone touched my head, really gently.
I barely opened my eyes and saw Andrew's face.
He'd probably just wrapped up his work. His laptop was still open.
Maybe he didn't even realize he'd woken me up, because he gently pulled the covers up around me.
He was murmuring something softly, his fingers absentmindedly playing with my ear.
His voice was so quiet that I couldn't catch what he was saying.
I shifted away from his touch.
I rolled over, pretending to be asleep, turning my back to him.
He didn't try to touch me again.
The next day, he headed out for his business trip.
He didn't send me a single message.
But Maisy was posting nonstop on her Instagram.
There were two muffins pressed together, a candid shot of Andrew looking up at her, and pictures of them showing off the local spots they'd visited.
Andrew had a soft smile, his eyes curving gently,like he was just enjoying the moment.
Smack in the middle of her grid was a photo taken right on the bedsheet.
In the picture, two hands were so close, practically touching, almost on top of each other.
The hand underneath was the one I'd held for seven years, so familiar that it almost hurt.
The caption was something she wrote herself. [Love is when your fingertips keep reaching for each other, without even realizing it.]
I took a screenshot and saved it.
It was not like I was the only one with coworkers or people interested in me.
*****
Hamish Perry was pouring me some water, just as Andrew and Maisy walked in, fresh from their business trip.
"Is it too hot? Want something else to drink?" Hamish asked.
He watched me anxiously, waiting for my answer.
Three years ago, Andrew and I hadn't made our relationship public at his company.
No one thought I was his girlfriend. Everyone just assumed he and Maisy were a couple.
Whenever I brought him something, people just assumed I was a client working on his project.
That was actually how Hamish first met me.
He saw me getting closer to Andrew and started to panic, practically pacing with agitation.
One day, he finally couldn't take it anymore and pulled me all the way to the emergency stairwell.
"Hey, Aleeza," he blurted out my name, his cheeks suddenly flushing for no reason.
"What's wrong?" I asked, confused.
"You really shouldn't keep chasing after Andrew. He's already taken," Hamish said.
I smiled. "I know, he's got a girlfriend."
His face wrinkled up. "This isn't really good for you."
"Huh?" I said, puzzled.
"I'm not saying you're a bad person," he muttered, glancing at me before quickly looking away. "But... can't you find someone else to like?"
"Huh?" I blinked.
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously.
"It's just... you know," he mumbled, eyes darting to the fire extinguisher nearby as he nervously tapped his fingers on the glass.
"Could you... maybe try liking me instead?" he finally said, turning to face me, his eyes shining with hope.
"Wait, what?" I blurted out.
"What do you mean by 'huh'?" Hamish leaned in, bending down a little to meet my eyes. "Am I really not an option?"
I put my hand on his chest. "Hold on a second."
He glanced at my hand, his face flushing even redder, but still shuffled a little closer.
"What?" he asked, his gaze serious, watching me with a kind of awkward sincerity.
"No, that's not it," I said.
I laughed, gently nudging him back with my finger pressed to his forehead. "Andrew and I are together."
"Wait, what?" Hamish blurted out.