Page 124 of Chemistry: The Chemist

Brown boxes lined the floor, apparently brought up to my place by concierge. I hadn’t ordered anything online as of lately, but Chem had. I imagined he’d burned a hole through his credit card. On the shipping label of the brown boxes were names of every store we’d visited in Berkeley and a few we hadn’t gotten a chance to.

Does he know when to quit? Where will I fit all of this?

On cue, another phone he’d provided me began to vibrate. Carrying so many of them around was becoming a headache. I kept the phone I’d been issued home for the most part, tucked away until it was time to check in or I received a notification through email to answer a call that would be placed at a designated time.

“Do you ever quit?” I whispered into the phone, setting the cup of ice on the counter and heading to the bedroom closet where I stored the agency’s phone.

“Spoiling you? No. Why would I?”

“Maybe because I’m running out of room at my place.”

“That’s why we have a big ass house with big ass closets, Eden. If they’re not enough, then I’ll build you one that is.”

“Chemistry, no more.”

“I just thought I’d tell you sorry in advance.”

“Sorry? For what?”

“You haven’t been in your bedroom, huh?” He tittered.

Before responding, I exited the closet, back peddling into my room where things began to become clearer.

“Did you– I know you didn’t– Wait. Where is my bed?”

“I get the best sleep in it, Choc.”

“Does that mean you just come jack it from my place?”

“What other choice did I have?”

“I don’t know, maybe find one like it,” I suggested, holding my chest as I laughed.

“Why when yours was right there.”

“Chem, this is insane.”

“Have you learned anything about me yet?”

“I have, which is why this shouldn’t surprise me.”

“It shouldn’t. Besides, I’m a reasonable man, Eden. If you want to sleep in your bed, then fine. I understand. But, whenever the feeling arises, there’s only one place you’ll find it. Me and the bed are a package deal. To sleep on it, you have to be sleeping with me.”

“Isn’t that some crap?”

“It’s fair. Don’t lie. Just think about it.”

“In the meantime, what will I sleep on?”

“There’s a bed in the loft area.”

“I don’t want to sleep up there. I like being near the window.”

“Then you know what you have to do,” he teased.

“Sleep with you.”

“You say that like it’s bad news. I’m going to need you to sound a bit more enthused.”

---