So formal.
So rehearsed.
They take one more question, then the general manager rises, thanking everyone for their time—before Duke and Eli stand and follow him out of the room, the broadcast returning to a studio of sports broadcasters who begin recapping the news ad nauseam.
“That’s it?” I say it out loud to absolutely no one. “That’s what all the fuss was about? That didn’t even last five minutes.”
Anti-climactic is what that was.
I stand in the kitchen, clicking the television off, not wanting to hear any more.
When I turn to leave the room, my eyes lock on the lone envelope on the counter—the one full of money he left for me.
“Why would he do this? Does he think I was expecting it?” He’d paid me upfront before moving in. It wasn’t necessary to give me a tip. Or a bonus. Or is this because of the sex?
If it was, I would hunt him down and give him a piece of my mind.
I do not want this money.
I want to throw the cash in his face or, better yet—burnit.
16
duke
Why did I leave without saying goodbye?
I feel like kind of an asshole dipping out like that, writing a quick note and taping it to the door, then putting whatever cash I had in an envelope.
You know—to help her out?
She didn’t have to tolerate my shit for an entire week and a half; I had to have been disruptive.
Why do you even fucking care, Colter? Posey was your roommate for the week and basically your landlady, at best. What do you give a shit about whether or not you were unbearable to live with? You paid her.
Then paid her again.
Fuck.
That envelope of cash.
When I mentioned it offhandedly to Eli, he slapped his palm to his forehead.
“What do you mean you gave her an envelope of cash? Why would you do that? You paid her already.”
I have no idea if it was a good idea to mention I’d also fucked her and felt guilty having to leave. So I do.
“You what?”
“I slept with her. But it didn’t mean anything, I swear.”
Which sounds worse somehow?
“Oh good. So you slept with her, without having her sign a nondisclosure, I’m assuming.” He’s being sarcastic, and I don’t appreciate it.
“Why would I have her sign a nondisclosure? She said she wasn’t going to say anything.”
Eli throws his hands up in the air, like he’s given up. “Oh! She promises she won’t say anything, he says.”He leans forward, setting his hands on the table and lacing his fingers. “Listen. I love Posey, I do—she’s great. I wouldn’t have orchestrated the arrangement if I didn’t trust her. But…if she caught any kind of feelings for you, she isn’t going to be able to keep it to herself. Best-case scenario, she only tells Molly.”