Chapter 08: Tick Tock
Two hours later
A knock at the door.
Maya turned her head. “Who could that be?”
Sean was already getting up. “It’s for me.”
“For you?” Maya stood up.
He opened the door, grabbed the bags.
“When did you—”
“While you were explaining relays.” He brought them to the coffee table. Started unpacking.
She watched him lay everything out. Containers. Napkins.
She looked at the coffee table that now displayed a feast. She looked back at him.
He shrugged. “I like feeding you.”
She jammed a spring roll in her mouth. Damn, it was good.
“I love spring rolls.” Maya finally remembered how to speak.
“I remember.” Sean handed her a napkin.
They sat on the couch. Ate. Talked. The sun moved again, shifting the afternoon light through the windows. They didn’t notice.
Sean stood. “Bathroom?”
“Down the hall. Left.”
He walked off.
Maya grabbed her phone.
No 🚗 to Arlington 🚫 group chat. 43 unread messages.
She scrolled to the top.
LEYLA: Maya!! LEYLA: MAYA LEYLA: She’s living in a telenovela rn LEYLA: I just left her with VEGAS GUY AISHA: omg SALMA: they ran into each other? LEYLA: nope LEYLA: He ran TO her AISHA: ??? LEYLA: Out of breath LEYLA: Did NOT ghost. DMs were broken. SALMA: omg AISHA: STOP AISHA: How do DMs break? LEYLA: YES SALMA: wait how did he find her? LEYLA: She posted from the cafe and he recognized it I guess? LEYLA: It was on one of Maya’s bitcoin apps AISHA: … SALMA: slick Maya 😏 AISHA: Our GIRL LEYLA: OH SHIT I didn’t even put that together LEYLA: Ok I have to go to pilates but they just left together AISHA: LEYLA AISHA: YOU CANNOT LEAVE SALMA: ??? LEYLA: I HAVE CLASS LEYLA: BYEEE
AISHA: its been 2 hours SALMA: good sign AISHA: very good sign
SALMA: cant believe I’m out of town for this AISHA: how’s the hotel room this time? AISHA: wait AISHA: your apartment is empty SALMA: AISHA SALMA: pretty nice SALMA: [video] AISHA: do i see a jacuzzi? SALMA: like I’ll have time to use it
LEYLA: Im back LEYLA: Anything? AISHA: Nothing SALMA: 4 hours LEYLA: Ok I found a photo of him LEYLA: [image] AISHA: oh AISHA: OH SALMA: ok SALMA: OK SALMA: How did you get this photo? LEYLA: Right?? SALMA: Very cute LEYLA: I do IRF with him AISHA: He’s cute LEYLA: He’s a good guy LEYLA: Actually LEYLA: He is obsessed with Bitcoin I think AISHA: I don’t hate this! SALMA: GET IT MAYA LEYLA: Bitcoin babies incoming.. AISHA: LEYLA SALMA: 😂😂😂
Footsteps in the hall.
Maya put the phone face-down on the table.
Two hours later
A knock at the door.
Maya turned her head. “Who could that be?”
Sean was already getting up. “It’s for me.”
“For you?” Maya stood up.
He opened the door, grabbed the bags.
“When did you—”
“While you were explaining relays.” He brought them to the coffee table. Started unpacking.
She watched him lay everything out. Containers. Napkins.
She looked at the coffee table that now displayed a feast. She looked back at him.
He shrugged. “I like feeding you.”
She jammed a spring roll in her mouth. Damn, it was good.
“I love spring rolls.” Maya finally remembered how to speak.
“I remember.” Sean handed her a napkin.
They sat on the couch. Ate. Talked. The sun moved again, shifting the afternoon light through the windows. They didn’t notice.
Sean stood. “Bathroom?”
“Down the hall. Left.”
He walked off.
Maya grabbed her phone.
No 🚗 to Arlington 🚫 group chat. 43 unread messages.
She scrolled to the top.
LEYLA: Maya!! LEYLA: MAYA LEYLA: She’s living in a telenovela rn LEYLA: I just left her with VEGAS GUY AISHA: omg SALMA: they ran into each other? LEYLA: nope LEYLA: He ran TO her AISHA: ??? LEYLA: Out of breath LEYLA: Did NOT ghost. DMs were broken. SALMA: omg AISHA: STOP AISHA: How do DMs break? LEYLA: YES SALMA: wait how did he find her? LEYLA: She posted from the cafe and he recognized it I guess? LEYLA: It was on one of Maya’s bitcoin apps AISHA: … SALMA: slick Maya 😏 AISHA: Our GIRL LEYLA: OH SHIT I didn’t even put that together LEYLA: Ok I have to go to pilates but they just left together AISHA: LEYLA AISHA: YOU CANNOT LEAVE SALMA: ??? LEYLA: I HAVE CLASS LEYLA: BYEEE
AISHA: its been 2 hours SALMA: good sign AISHA: very good sign
SALMA: cant believe I’m out of town for this AISHA: how’s the hotel room this time? AISHA: wait AISHA: your apartment is empty SALMA: AISHA SALMA: pretty nice SALMA: [video] AISHA: do i see a jacuzzi? SALMA: like I’ll have time to use it
LEYLA: Im back LEYLA: Anything? AISHA: Nothing SALMA: 4 hours LEYLA: Ok I found a photo of him LEYLA: [image] AISHA: oh AISHA: OH SALMA: ok SALMA: OK SALMA: How did you get this photo? LEYLA: Right?? SALMA: Very cute LEYLA: I do IRF with him AISHA: He’s cute LEYLA: He’s a good guy LEYLA: Actually LEYLA: He is obsessed with Bitcoin I think AISHA: I don’t hate this! SALMA: GET IT MAYA LEYLA: Bitcoin babies incoming.. AISHA: LEYLA SALMA: 😂😂😂
Footsteps in the hall.
Maya put the phone face-down on the table.
Two hours later
A knock at the door.
Maya turned her head. “Who could that be?”
Sean was already getting up. “It’s for me.”
“For you?” Maya stood up.
He opened the door, grabbed the bags.
“When did you—”
“While you were explaining relays.” He brought them to the coffee table. Started unpacking.
She watched him lay everything out. Containers. Napkins.
She looked at the coffee table that now displayed a feast. She looked back at him.
He shrugged. “I like feeding you.”
She jammed a spring roll in her mouth. Damn, it was good.
“I love spring rolls.” Maya finally remembered how to speak.
“I remember.” Sean handed her a napkin.
They sat on the couch. Ate. Talked. The sun moved again, shifting the afternoon light through the windows. They didn’t notice.
Sean stood. “Bathroom?”
“Down the hall. Left.”
He walked off.
Maya grabbed her phone.
No 🚗 to Arlington 🚫 group chat. 43 unread messages.
She scrolled to the top.
LEYLA: Maya!! LEYLA: MAYA LEYLA: She’s living in a telenovela rn LEYLA: I just left her with VEGAS GUY AISHA: omg SALMA: they ran into each other? LEYLA: nope LEYLA: He ran TO her AISHA: ??? LEYLA: Out of breath LEYLA: Did NOT ghost. DMs were broken. SALMA: omg AISHA: STOP AISHA: How do DMs break? LEYLA: YES SALMA: wait how did he find her? LEYLA: She posted from the cafe and he recognized it I guess? LEYLA: It was on one of Maya’s bitcoin apps AISHA: … SALMA: slick Maya 😏 AISHA: Our GIRL LEYLA: OH SHIT I didn’t even put that together LEYLA: Ok I have to go to pilates but they just left together AISHA: LEYLA AISHA: YOU CANNOT LEAVE SALMA: ??? LEYLA: I HAVE CLASS LEYLA: BYEEE
AISHA: its been 2 hours SALMA: good sign AISHA: very good sign
SALMA: cant believe I’m out of town for this AISHA: how’s the hotel room this time? AISHA: wait AISHA: your apartment is empty SALMA: AISHA SALMA: pretty nice SALMA: [video] AISHA: do i see a jacuzzi? SALMA: like I’ll have time to use it
LEYLA: Im back LEYLA: Anything? AISHA: Nothing SALMA: 4 hours LEYLA: Ok I found a photo of him LEYLA: [image] AISHA: oh AISHA: OH SALMA: ok SALMA: OK SALMA: How did you get this photo? LEYLA: Right?? SALMA: Very cute LEYLA: I do IRF with him AISHA: He’s cute LEYLA: He’s a good guy LEYLA: Actually LEYLA: He is obsessed with Bitcoin I think AISHA: I don’t hate this! SALMA: GET IT MAYA LEYLA: Bitcoin babies incoming.. AISHA: LEYLA SALMA: 😂😂😂
Footsteps in the hall.
Maya put the phone face-down on the table.
Two hours later
A knock at the door.
Maya turned her head. “Who could that be?”
Sean was already getting up. “It’s for me.”
“For you?” Maya stood up.
He opened the door, grabbed the bags.
“When did you—”
“While you were explaining relays.” He brought them to the coffee table. Started unpacking.
She watched him lay everything out. Containers. Napkins.
She looked at the coffee table that now displayed a feast. She looked back at him.
He shrugged. “I like feeding you.”
She jammed a spring roll in her mouth. Damn, it was good.
“I love spring rolls.” Maya finally remembered how to speak.
“I remember.” Sean handed her a napkin.
They sat on the couch. Ate. Talked. The sun moved again, shifting the afternoon light through the windows. They didn’t notice.
Sean stood. “Bathroom?”
“Down the hall. Left.”
He walked off.
Maya grabbed her phone.
No 🚗 to Arlington 🚫 group chat. 43 unread messages.
She scrolled to the top.
LEYLA: Maya!! LEYLA: MAYA LEYLA: She’s living in a telenovela rn LEYLA: I just left her with VEGAS GUY AISHA: omg SALMA: they ran into each other? LEYLA: nope LEYLA: He ran TO her AISHA: ??? LEYLA: Out of breath LEYLA: Did NOT ghost. DMs were broken. SALMA: omg AISHA: STOP AISHA: How do DMs break? LEYLA: YES SALMA: wait how did he find her? LEYLA: She posted from the cafe and he recognized it I guess? LEYLA: It was on one of Maya’s bitcoin apps AISHA: … SALMA: slick Maya 😏 AISHA: Our GIRL LEYLA: OH SHIT I didn’t even put that together LEYLA: Ok I have to go to pilates but they just left together AISHA: LEYLA AISHA: YOU CANNOT LEAVE SALMA: ??? LEYLA: I HAVE CLASS LEYLA: BYEEE
AISHA: its been 2 hours SALMA: good sign AISHA: very good sign
SALMA: cant believe I’m out of town for this AISHA: how’s the hotel room this time? AISHA: wait AISHA: your apartment is empty SALMA: AISHA SALMA: pretty nice SALMA: [video] AISHA: do i see a jacuzzi? SALMA: like I’ll have time to use it
LEYLA: Im back LEYLA: Anything? AISHA: Nothing SALMA: 4 hours LEYLA: Ok I found a photo of him LEYLA: [image] AISHA: oh AISHA: OH SALMA: ok SALMA: OK SALMA: How did you get this photo? LEYLA: Right?? SALMA: Very cute LEYLA: I do IRF with him AISHA: He’s cute LEYLA: He’s a good guy LEYLA: Actually LEYLA: He is obsessed with Bitcoin I think AISHA: I don’t hate this! SALMA: GET IT MAYA LEYLA: Bitcoin babies incoming.. AISHA: LEYLA SALMA: 😂😂😂
Footsteps in the hall.
Maya put the phone face-down on the table.
Two hours later
A knock at the door.
Maya turned her head. “Who could that be?”
Sean was already getting up. “It’s for me.”
“For you?” Maya stood up.
He opened the door, grabbed the bags.
“When did you—”
“While you were explaining relays.” He brought them to the coffee table. Started unpacking.
She watched him lay everything out. Containers. Napkins.
She looked at the coffee table that now displayed a feast. She looked back at him.
He shrugged. “I like feeding you.”
She jammed a spring roll in her mouth. Damn, it was good.
“I love spring rolls.” Maya finally remembered how to speak.
“I remember.” Sean handed her a napkin.
They sat on the couch. Ate. Talked. The sun moved again, shifting the afternoon light through the windows. They didn’t notice.
Sean stood. “Bathroom?”
“Down the hall. Left.”
He walked off.
Maya grabbed her phone.
No 🚗 to Arlington 🚫 group chat. 43 unread messages.
She scrolled to the top.
LEYLA: Maya!! LEYLA: MAYA LEYLA: She’s living in a telenovela rn LEYLA: I just left her with VEGAS GUY AISHA: omg SALMA: they ran into each other? LEYLA: nope LEYLA: He ran TO her AISHA: ??? LEYLA: Out of breath LEYLA: Did NOT ghost. DMs were broken. SALMA: omg AISHA: STOP AISHA: How do DMs break? LEYLA: YES SALMA: wait how did he find her? LEYLA: She posted from the cafe and he recognized it I guess? LEYLA: It was on one of Maya’s bitcoin apps AISHA: … SALMA: slick Maya 😏 AISHA: Our GIRL LEYLA: OH SHIT I didn’t even put that together LEYLA: Ok I have to go to pilates but they just left together AISHA: LEYLA AISHA: YOU CANNOT LEAVE SALMA: ??? LEYLA: I HAVE CLASS LEYLA: BYEEE
AISHA: its been 2 hours SALMA: good sign AISHA: very good sign
SALMA: cant believe I’m out of town for this AISHA: how’s the hotel room this time? AISHA: wait AISHA: your apartment is empty SALMA: AISHA SALMA: pretty nice SALMA: [video] AISHA: do i see a jacuzzi? SALMA: like I’ll have time to use it
LEYLA: Im back LEYLA: Anything? AISHA: Nothing SALMA: 4 hours LEYLA: Ok I found a photo of him LEYLA: [image] AISHA: oh AISHA: OH SALMA: ok SALMA: OK SALMA: How did you get this photo? LEYLA: Right?? SALMA: Very cute LEYLA: I do IRF with him AISHA: He’s cute LEYLA: He’s a good guy LEYLA: Actually LEYLA: He is obsessed with Bitcoin I think AISHA: I don’t hate this! SALMA: GET IT MAYA LEYLA: Bitcoin babies incoming.. AISHA: LEYLA SALMA: 😂😂😂
Footsteps in the hall.
Maya put the phone face-down on the table.
Two hours later
A knock at the door.
Maya turned her head. “Who could that be?”
Sean was already getting up. “It’s for me.”
“For you?” Maya stood up.
He opened the door, grabbed the bags.
“When did you—”
“While you were explaining relays.” He brought them to the coffee table. Started unpacking.
She watched him lay everything out. Containers. Napkins.
She looked at the coffee table that now displayed a feast. She looked back at him.
He shrugged. “I like feeding you.”
She jammed a spring roll in her mouth. Damn, it was good.
“I love spring rolls.” Maya finally remembered how to speak.
“I remember.” Sean handed her a napkin.
They sat on the couch. Ate. Talked. The sun moved again, shifting the afternoon light through the windows. They didn’t notice.
Sean stood. “Bathroom?”
“Down the hall. Left.”
He walked off.
Maya grabbed her phone.
No 🚗 to Arlington 🚫 group chat. 43 unread messages.
She scrolled to the top.
LEYLA: Maya!! LEYLA: MAYA LEYLA: She’s living in a telenovela rn LEYLA: I just left her with VEGAS GUY AISHA: omg SALMA: they ran into each other? LEYLA: nope LEYLA: He ran TO her AISHA: ??? LEYLA: Out of breath LEYLA: Did NOT ghost. DMs were broken. SALMA: omg AISHA: STOP AISHA: How do DMs break? LEYLA: YES SALMA: wait how did he find her? LEYLA: She posted from the cafe and he recognized it I guess? LEYLA: It was on one of Maya’s bitcoin apps AISHA: … SALMA: slick Maya 😏 AISHA: Our GIRL LEYLA: OH SHIT I didn’t even put that together LEYLA: Ok I have to go to pilates but they just left together AISHA: LEYLA AISHA: YOU CANNOT LEAVE SALMA: ??? LEYLA: I HAVE CLASS LEYLA: BYEEE
AISHA: its been 2 hours SALMA: good sign AISHA: very good sign
SALMA: cant believe I’m out of town for this AISHA: how’s the hotel room this time? AISHA: wait AISHA: your apartment is empty SALMA: AISHA SALMA: pretty nice SALMA: [video] AISHA: do i see a jacuzzi? SALMA: like I’ll have time to use it
LEYLA: Im back LEYLA: Anything? AISHA: Nothing SALMA: 4 hours LEYLA: Ok I found a photo of him LEYLA: [image] AISHA: oh AISHA: OH SALMA: ok SALMA: OK SALMA: How did you get this photo? LEYLA: Right?? SALMA: Very cute LEYLA: I do IRF with him AISHA: He’s cute LEYLA: He’s a good guy LEYLA: Actually LEYLA: He is obsessed with Bitcoin I think AISHA: I don’t hate this! SALMA: GET IT MAYA LEYLA: Bitcoin babies incoming.. AISHA: LEYLA SALMA: 😂😂😂
Footsteps in the hall.
Maya put the phone face-down on the table.