Page 65 of No One Else

15

Evan

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“DID YOU SEE A NEW TEKKENreleases next year?” Luke asks, shaking out his arms after his set. “They added back in Armor King, but only if you get the season pass. They’re gonna force me to buy it. Man, I loved playing him as a kid. Oh, and they’re making an announcement in two weeks about the next guest character. I hope it’s someone as cool as Terminator, like Mortal Kombat did. Are you gonna get it?”

Luke’s always pressuring me to buy whatever latest game he has. I do occasionally, but I don’t have the kind of disposable income he has. Once I buy a game, I have to play it to death to justify its cost. But his family is well off from what it sounds like, even helping him pay for his apartment.

I know he doesn’t mean anything bad by asking if I’ll get it. I’ve never fully explained my financial situation to him before. Most of the extra money I make is earmarked for Dad’s medical bills. I feel guilty spending anything on myself.

Although, I’d really like to take Natalie out again. Maybe I can pick up more clients at the gym. And she can get me first dibs on anyone new who comes in.

But that means less time to spend with her. Hmm... choices.

I glance over at the front desk, spotting her talking to... the same delivery guy from yesterday. He’s trying to hand her a white box, but she crosses her arms over her chest, shaking her head.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell Luke, jogging over to see what’s going on.

“Hey man, what’s up?” I ask the guy, getting a glimpse of Natalie’s face, her expression set in stubborn concentration.

“Will you tell her to take this?” He thrusts the box at her again, but she refuses to accept it.

“Whatever’s in there,” she grits out, “I don’t want it.”

“Look, I don’t get paid unless it’s actually delivered. Do whatever you want with it afterward. Throw it in the trash, doesn’t matter to me. I just need to confirm you received it.”

“I get it. You’re just doing your job.” I take it and Natalie finally glances over at me, her face a mixture of anger and guilt. I sign for it and she immediately takes it out of my hand, tossing it in the garbage can under the desk.

“You’re not even curious what’s in there?”

“Nope.”

“Well, I am.” I fish it out, opening it to find a pair of glittering emerald earrings, the stones sparkling under the gym’s fluorescent lights. “They match your eyes,” I comment. She turns away, straightening papers that were perfectly straight to begin with. “At least give them to someone. Don’t just chuck them. They look expensive.”

“I’ll save them for Gina,” she says in a small voice. “She won’t care where they came from.”

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