Page 105 of Fun Together
The rest of the group answers with similarly vague responses. At this point, I just want to be out of this room. “I think that’s all I have for you,” I say. And then it’s like a weight has been lifted from the room and they all heave a collective sigh of relief.
We stand, and Anna says she will escort me out to the elevator. “It was nice speaking with you all. Thank you so much for the opportunity,” I say in the most polite voice I can muster.
“We will be in touch,” Anna says, pressing theUpbutton for me.
And that is that. I head back to my desk, and I sit there for a few moments before waking my computer up, dumbfounded at how odd that was. No one was mean to me like I was worried about, but instead this feels somehow worse. I didn’t expect an interrogation about Eli, followed by polite neutrality. I really didn’t expect to feel even more invisible at this company than I already do. Maybe they saw me and immediately knew I wasn’t a fit, so they just went through the motions.
Either way, I’m relieved it’s over.
Maybe Alexis isn’t so bad. At least she doesn’t act like a robot.
33
Eli
After pickingup takeout from Faye’s favorite Indian restaurant, I head over to her place. Based on the brief text exchange we had earlier to decide on dinner plans, I couldn’t tell if the interview went well or not. But as soon as I give her a hug when I arrive, I notice something’s off. She radiates tension and refuses to look at me.
By the time we finish eating, I can’t stand it any longer, and decide to try to press her for details about the interview.
“How did it go today?” I ask.
She sniffs. “It was fine, I think.”
“So, you’re feeling good about it?”
“I’m not sure,” she says, busying herself with placing the lid on the rice we didn’t eat.
I don’t push anymore, because clearly, she doesn’t want to talk about it. I tell her about my day instead, hoping to ease some of her tension by letting her know about a call I had with a candidate that involved him forgetting to put the phone on mute while he peed during the call. This would usually get at least a chuckle out of her. But she just smiles in a distracted way.
“Want me to stay over tonight?”I ask.
“No, that’s okay. I’m not really in the mood.”
“I meant just to stay with you. It seems like something is on your mind. Are you sure everything is okay?”
“I think I’m just going to shower and go to bed, so I won’t be good company.”
As if that matters to me. I would stay with her if she’s breathing fire down my throat or not talking to me at all. I know something is bothering her and I hate that she doesn’t feel like she can tell me.
“You know it’s not a burden for me to stay with you,” I say.
And that was the worst thing I could have said.
“I don’t think I’m a burden,” she says shortly, grabbing the takeout containers and taking them into the kitchen. I can practically see the wall she’s put up. A wall I don’t mind scaling, if it means I can help her.
“That came out wrong. I just mean I don’t care if you’re good company. I don’t care if we sit in silence or watch a movie. I don’t care if you sleep in your bed and I sleep on this couch. If you need someone, I’m here. That’s all I’m saying.”
She doesn’t say anything, and I watch her wipe down the kitchen counters that aren’t even dirty. She’s scrubbing them as if it’s her personal responsibility to rid them of decades of invisible grime.
“I could maybe go for a movie,” she says, so quiet I’m not sure I even heard her at all.
“What’s your comfort movie?”
She folds up the kitchen towel and hangs it over the edge of the sink. “ProbablyRosemary’s Baby.”
“Rosemary’s Babyis your comfort movie?”
She smiles the tiniest bit. “I know it’s fucked up, but yes. I used to watch it a lot when I was younger.”
