Page 54 of Just for Fun
“You woke me up,” I explain, not bothering to say that I was daydreaming about Zara.
“It’s three o’clock in the afternoon,” he snaps at me. “I don’t pay you to sleep all day.”
Technically, I am a contractor to his company. He has the necessary network to market the games that I create. Since marketing is the part I hate the most, I welcome his assistance even though I have to split the profits with him. But I make more than enough money even after that, so it’s not an issue.
“I’m gonna go put some pants on,” I tell him. “I don’t want to offend your sensibilities.”
“Too late, you already have,” he deadpans.
I flip him off as I walk away. As soon as I enter my bedroom, I drop the bat and pull a pair of athletic shorts on. The T-shirt laying on the chair close to the bed doesn’t look too fresh, so I grab a clean one from the dresser.
There’s a lady in town who picks up my laundry every couple of days, then brings it back, clean and folded. But she’s been sick and missed the last two times. At this rate, I might need tobuy clean T-shirts since I don’t know where the laundromat is located.
“I came by earlier, too,” Alex snaps at me as soon as I am back in the living room. “You’ve been sleeping all this time?”
“What time were you here?”
I walk to the fridge and grab a bottle of water, knowing it will annoy him if I take my time with it.
“A quarter to nine,” comes his gruff response.
I take a long sip, drinking until I feel like I could choke.
“Was out.” I wipe at my mouth with the back of my hand.
Alex’s eyebrow goes up in skepticism. “You worked all night, but you were out at a quarter to nine, and asleep just now?”
I take a moment to process what he just said and make sure he got the order of the events right.
“Correct.”
“Are you drunk? High?”
That is a valid question, especially given my history. I do like to get a good buzz once in a while, from booze only, no drugs. But I am not offended that he threw that in there as well.
“No. I had a date.”
The way his mouth drops open is comical to say the least. But that’s because he is so damn serious all the time. He is angry at the world, and he hates it when the rest of us have a good time.
“You had a date early this morning.” He doesn’t ask, just repeats what he’s not sure that he heard.
“Yes,” I confirm. “I had abreakfastdate. And I was late for it. The girl is very punctual. She didn’t appreciate that. And then, we ran into her brother. Not on purpose,” I make sure to add. “She ran, literally ran. I followed, then I took her to work. And I have to pick her up at five.”
Alex continues staring at me like I have completely lost my mind.
“Is this a joke?” He looks around, expecting to see people jumping from behind the couch, laughing at how gullible he is.
“No joke,” I assure him. “It was a wild morning.” I stretch and run my hands through my messy hair. “I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”
Alex doesn’t say anything for the longest time. I give him time to process everything. He is the type of person and friend who will judge you for your actions, and who doesn’t have any problem saying it to your face.
“The thing that shocks me the most is that you fucked a girl who has a nine-to-five job,” he finally says.
I would be offended if that wasn’t the truth. With the exception of me not having fucked her. Yet. That’s coming, too, pun intended.
“I didn’t know strip clubs opened that early,” he continues.
Okay, now I’m mad.
