Page 12 of Shared Spaces

Once I get to my car, I sit for a few minutes to calm my nerves before taking off to the apartment. I’m so pissed off and can’t help but feel bad for Gwen.

I don’t know what she said to her, but I will find out, and mark my fucking words—she won’t be speaking to them again.

7

Gwen

Busy shopping malls terrify me to no end.

I managed to get everything I needed in record time, though I’m sure I’m still forgetting something for Jay’s party.

Mostly everybody responded that they were coming, so that’s around twelve people I have to grab enough food and drinks for. I really only expected half of them to respond.

Mila suggested that we just buy everything in bulk, and I agreed. Hosting a party isn’t something I’ve ever done before, so I took her advice on everything.

The supplies took up an entire corner of her spare room. I offered to take more back to the apartment with me, but even Mila knows how snoopy Jay can be.

As I walk through the door of our apartment, I notice Jay’s shoes on the shoe rack, catching me off guard a little considering I know his schedule and he definitely said he had classes in the afternoon.

Kicking my shoes off, I head to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and then saunter into the living room, expecting Jay to be working on his laptop or something, but his desk is empty and I don’t see him anywhere.

When I walk into the hallway, I notice his bedroom door is shut, so I knock on it a few times before hearing him answer.

“Just busy working. Be out in a little while.” I hear him say.

He sounds irritated.

Okay, maybe he’s closer to getting the app released. That’s always been the rule. Not to bother him while he’s working.

“Okay! I’m going to throw some chicken nuggets and fries into the air fryer, if you’re hungry,” I say before taking off into the kitchen.

It seems like air fryer food is the only thing I can manage to cook these days. I have no interest in cooking. My mother even tried to get me into baking and indulging in the world of recipes when I was a kid, but it just never clicked. She grew frustrated after a while and just invited my sister to help her instead.

Jay made sure to buy the double sided fryer, so it makes it easy to cook everything all at once, and it hasn’t caught on fire yet.

Yet.

After loading the fryer, I walk over to the fridge and look for some sort of sauce that compliments the fast food. I spot a bottle of hot sauce and a jar of mayo, which seems like the perfect combination.

Just when I reach for the mayo, my elbow catches a bottle on the fridge door, sending it smashing to the floor.

Low and behold, it was a jar of fucking pickles.

The one thing I absolutely despise the smell of.

“Shit!” I holler out, making sure there’s no glass around my feet before moving out of the way.

My socks are absolutely covered in the rancid smell of dill and garlic, which makes me want to vomit on the spot.

Jay comes running in out of nowhere and comes to a stop before the island, glancing down at the stray pickles on the floor in front of me.

“Again, Gwen? You’re always making such a damn mess,” he laughs.

“Ugh! Why are you home?!”

“Easy, princess. I’m just kidding.” He says, biting down on his lower lip, for no particular reason at all.

I’m standing in what now smells like a canning factory, and he thinks it’s funny.

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