Page 71 of Playing Hard to Hate
“Oh, sorry. The newspaper said…” He kept talking, but I zoned out. Of course he still read the newspaper.
“I’m in the middle of my workout. Do you mind?” I interrupted him, not in the mood for small talk. I was here to work on my body, not relationships with the people of Newsom Creek.
“Sorry.” He nodded and went back to doing his push-ups. I wanted to tell him his form was wrong, but that would mean starting a conversation, and I wasn’t here to make any friends.
That night, I watched one of my favorite comfort shows, made grilled chicken and pasta for dinner, and then spent two hours scrolling on TikTok. I had posted a new video and was looking for new content ideas, so technically I was working.
A knock at my door startled me, and I warily paused my show and looked through the peephole on the door. No one was there. Checking that the door was, in fact, locked, I went back to watching TV when I heard a commotion in the hallway. It wasn’t uncommon. The walls were thin, but my nerves were on edge.
I jumped when the neighbor’s dog barked, and noise penetrated the walls.
Doing the dishes, I turned the TV volume louder and nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard another knock at the front door. I checked the peephole again. No one was there.
It also wasn’t the first time I’d fallen victim to being ding-dong ditched. There was a group of middle school kids who lived in the building who liked to play the stupid game every now and then. I assumed this was the case, but I wasn’t in the mood tonight.
A floorboard creaked, and I slammed the dishwasher shut, picked up my phone, and texted Griffin.
Tatum
Any big plans tonight?
Griffin
I’m ten minutes away.
Tatum
I never asked you to come over. Why are you in the area?
Griffin
I knew you wouldn’t invite Millie to your “tv night.”
Tatum
Like you’d know. Griff turn around. LMK when you get home. Not in the mood.
Griffin
Not in the mood for ice cream? That’s not the Tatum Grace I know.
Tatum
Doesn’t fit my macros.
Griffin
We could burn some calories in the bedroom.
Tatum
In your dreams.
Griffin
Careful, kitten. You feature in my dreams every night.
Tatum
