"Oh, really?" Shocked, I turned this time to him, trying to gauge the emotion on his face.
"Yes. Why is that shocking? Did you not have a good time on Friday?"
"No, I did," I started, "a blast, actually. It's just, I guess I'm surprised you wanted to spend time with me after, is all." I shrugged, my face flaming.
"Of course I would. Levi had a blast and thought you were cool. He even shared his cookies with only minimal grumbling. He never shares with me."
"Oh. Well, that makes me feel special, actually."
"You should. He's a hard critic." He beamed.
When the ding of the elevator sounded for its arrival on the ground floor, I realized it was the first time I'd found myself not wanting to get off. Monroe held out his arm for me to go first, and I buttoned my coat as I made my way out of the building. Surprisingly, Monroe followed me, or perhaps, just headed in the same direction as me.
"You go this way?"
"Yeah. I usually walked slower so you could get ahead. You always seemed ready to get away from everyone and in your own world, and I didn't want to disturb that." He cringed in embarrassment, but it was me who felt it.
"Wow, I never realized how I must've seemed to others. I was just trying to… deal."
He searched my eyes before nodding. "Yeah, I can understand that. I mean, you weren't mean, just kind of not there, I guess. I always wondered what you were thinking," he admitted shyly.
"Nothing mostly, a break from all the things I have to pretend to be," I responded honestly, shocking even myself.
"How long have you been divorced? If that's okay to ask."
"Oh yeah, it's fine. I mean, you did save me from my ex, so I believe that earns you the right to ask," I joked. "We've been separated for two years and officially divorced for just a little over a year now. The day I moved in here was the same day I signed the papers. It honestly feels like it all happened to someone else."
"It's been about a year and a half for me, but separated for about the same amount. It's been messy, though, with Levi, and his mom, Brittni, keeps trying to get full custody. We split time, but it's like she wants to punish me by taking him completely away."
"Wow, that does suck. I guess in some ways, I'm lucky not to be dealing with that, and wow, that sounds so insensitive. I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. I know what you mean, and I agree. I love my son, and I'm happy to have him the time I do get. I just wish it was more and that his mom wasn't such a conniving bitch."
"Ah, well, yeah, that makes it difficult."
"Sorry, I don't mean to dump my ex-baggage on you. She just called right as I was leaving, and it's been on my mind, I guess."
"I get it. Wait, I don't think I really processed it until now with everything that happened. But do I remember correctly that your ex's sister is the one dating my ex? Is that right?"
"Uh, yeah. That would be Christine."
"Oddly coincidental."
"I guess, but also, not so much. The elite circles…"
"Say no more. I get it now. You're right. I forget that I choose not to be involved in those, but I'm part of the few who do that."
"Same. I didn't grow up in this life, so it's all foreign to me. My ex was into the title and zip code, and it was maddening at times."
"My mom is the same way, and it's pure torture trying to get out of her events every month, it seems. Though she did send me to Ignite, so I guess I can't hate her for that one," I joked.
"Do you think you'll volunteer more? Jude asked about you yesterday when I stopped by."
Smiling at that, I nodded, "I think I will. I like him too, and I think we could be good for one another. I'm going to talk to Mitzi today about it and see what I need to do in regards to paperwork and such."
"That's great. I enjoy working with the twins, and it feels nice giving back to the community. I wish I'd had programs like these when I was in the system."
"You were a foster kid?" I asked with surprise, then realizing how rude that sounded backtracked instantly. "I mean, that's cool. I didn't mean that to sound weird or anything. I'm just surprised, is all. Fuck, I'm making it worse. I'm going to shut up now."