Page 58 of Run, Run, Roommates
I pick one up and inspect it. It’s got a plaque on it that has Marco’s name on it, and the trophy itself is a hand holding a snowflake aloft. It’s dramatic and extra, but I don’t care.
And I guess we have Billy Bob to thank for it.
Marco sat up when I came in, and he’s watching me with a smile on his face. “Hi,” I say, and lean down to kiss him. It’s intended to be quick but Marco smells good—freshly showered and minty breath too.
When we pull apart, he pats the couch beside me.
“I need to shower,” I say. I’m gross from work and smell like food.
“Give me a minute,” he says. “I want to ask you something.”
I don’t like the sound of that. “Okay . . .” I sit.
“I was talking to Greg at the party.”
I straighten my back. “Oh?”
“He told me about the app, Sugary? I looked it up when I got home. Can you explain it to me?”
Oh my god. I can’t even begin to imagine what Greg told Marco. Is Marco mad I didn’t tell him before we had sex? I never even slept with anyone, though!
And of course, there’s my mom’s voice in my head, the words of the church. I think of the countless times my mom has excused men’s behavior because a woman dressed a certain way. If she were here right now, she’d say I deserved it because I put myself on that app.
Heart pounding, I wipe my hands on my pants. I remember when Eva described it to me, the words she used. “It’s a dating app. On paper it’s ‘luxury dating’ but in reality, it’s rich guys who are looking for a low-commitment relationship that’s more specific.”
“Specific how?”
“I only went on a few dates through the app. But Eva’s been on there for a while and she’s probably the person you want to talk to.”
Marco puts his arm over the back of the couch, his hand landing on my shoulder. He squeezes me gently. “Eva can do whatever she wants, as long as she’s a consenting adult. I want to know about you.”
I take a deep breath. “It’s unspoken that these men are looking for women to spoil. Sugar daddies, though the website is clear that those kinds of relationships are not allowed. Eva likes it because she gets taken out to fancy meals and one of her dates gifted her an expensive purse and she sold it, and another one gave her like two hundred dollars for cab fare home after their date. And she only sleeps with the guy if she actually wants to. But . . . it’s men, you know? Some of these dates are bound to go badly.”
Marco’s mouth tightens. “Did you go out on a date with Greg?”
“Yes. I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you before.” My eyes sting. I should have told him when I saw Greg at the scavenger hunt.
My fists are curled in my lap, and Marco picks one of them up and brings it to his mouth, pressing a kiss on the back of my hand. “What did he do?”
I take a deep breath. “We had one date. I could tell he thought I was going to sleep with him that night, and then he was pissed that I didn’t go home with him. It was nothing he said right then, but the way he looked at me. And then he messaged me.”
Marco leans back and draws in a deep breath.
They’re just words, some of them I even believe, on some level, even though I don’t want to.
I stand up. “I want to show you those messages.”
“Brin, wait.” Marco catches my hand. “You know I believe you, right? I don’t ever want to be friends with someone who made you uncomfortable.”
“I know,” I say. Marco lets me go and I dig my phone out of my purse. I have to redownload the app and reset my password. A pop-up comes up that says, “Your account was suspended due to four weeks of inactivity. Would you like to reinstate your account?”
I click yes, and I’m brought to the home screen of Sugary. I take a deep breath and click on my inbox.
32
Marco
Brin navigates to her messages and then scrolls up, reading as she goes. She pales, and her eyes get watery. My stomach feels like lead.
