"Hey, Effie," he said, his voice rushed and fleeting.
"Jack, where are you? Are we eating somewhere tonight?"
"I'm so sorry. I'm stuck in the studio tonight and I'm not going to be able to sneak away since I'm on someone else's dime."
"Oh." I felt a little down. "Can I stop by or something?"
There was a bunch of commotion in the background, commotion that included a woman's voice. I assumed it was Lexy and fought not to feel irrationally jealous. Stupid Sam, making me worry unnecessarily...
"Effie, I'm so sorry. I should have told you about this, but it came up at the last second. I just can't have any interruptions tonight. It's not going as planned, and I need to pick up the pieces."
I felt let down, yet why should I? Jack was a busy guy, and it wasn't like he was always going to be around one hundred percent of the time. It made me feel a little greedy, actually, to think that he should be with me instead of his music.
And then, like the way it happens whenever you tell yourself not to think some specific thought, I was back to thinking about what Sam had said. He's just crazy. Ignore him. If Sam actually was crazy, that wasn't good either, but it was a better thought than unfairly assuming Jack was sleeping with every woman he spoke to.
I wasn't sure how long it had been since I said something, my mind off in space. "Effie? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, Jack. I'm fine." I was pacing in front of my apartment building, delaying going inside while I talked.
"I'll catch up with you later, okay? I'll try to call you later tonight."
"Bye," I said quietly. The commotion on Jack's end rose in volume and then the call clicked off.
I sighed loudly and headed into the apartment, quickly realizing that it would be a long night.
Chapter 9
When I got up to the apartment, Laura was in the kitchen cooking with Jesse, a total surprise given the fact it was Monday night. Her long, brown hair was messy, making me a little suspicious about what they had been doing prior to my getting home. They were also wearing pajamas.
Good timing, I suppose.
"Hi, Effie!" Jesse called out. "We're making spaghetti—would you like some? Or are you sneaking out for the evening?" They were both drinking wine while the water boiled on the stove.
"I'm staying in tonight. And yes, that sounds great—if I'm not interrupting something."
Jesse laughed as his eyes scanned the instructions on the package of the frozen garlic bread. "Fifteen minutes," he said to himself. "And you're totally welcome here."
Laura turned and smiled at me. "Hi, Effie," she said. "Nice to see you again." She was really pretty and nice, and honestly, I wished that we could hang out together more often. Our encounters were usually short-lived or just in passing.
"Yeah, we always seem to miss each other. Not tonight though!" I left my shoes by the door and headed toward my room, sneaking past their position in the kitchen.
"Do you want some wine?" Laura asked. "You seem down."
I stopped in my tracks. "You know, I'd really like that. And no, it's nothing. I just thought Jack and I were gonna hang out tonight, but he's wrapped up in work."
"That sucks," Laura said. She was facing the pot on the stove, frantically stirring the pasta as steam rushed into the kitchen. "Jesse and I have that problem sometimes, too."
"At least he's working and not out cheating on you," Jesse said, a wry grin breaking out on his face.
"That makes me feel real good, Jesse. Thanks!" I shook my head and laughed. "Can I have either wine?" There was an open bottle of both red and white and they were both preoccupied with cooking.
Laura smiled back at me. "Take what you want. My dad gave them to me. It's funny that the stuff he gives away is nicer than any wine I've ever bought in my life."
Her smile was seriously infectious. I needed that right now. I poured a glass of white wine and continued toward my room. "I want to get out of these clothes. I'll be right back."
They both nodded and kept to their kitchen duties. Jesse put the garlic bread into the oven as I was leaving.
Stealing the idea from them, I threw on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie, the most comfortable combination of things I had in the room. When I started thinking about everything that happened today—Sam's volatility and Jack's sudden absence—it made my head spin. I wanted to get back out to them as soon as possible. I knew I was being overdramatic, but I couldn't seem to help it.
After leaving my room, I realized I had forgotten my cell phone in there. "Whatever," I said to myself. I wanted a break from all of this emotional stuff. By the time I got back to the kitchen—I briefly stopped to freshen up in the bathroom—the food was ready.
"I hope that pasta is al dente," Jesse said.
"Oh, shut up. You know I don't screw that up. Unlike a certain person I know." Laura playfully messed up his hair and then they both started laughing. It was like I had walked into a real life romantic comedy.
God, I wanted to be goofing around with Jack like that right now. I was so jealous, even though I had seen Jack for the last three days straight and these two only got together about once a week, if that. Why was I being so ridiculous about this?
Well, it was the Sam thing. I knew it was. More importantly, I needed to eat.
***
"What are you studying again, Laura?" I couldn't remember even though Jesse mentioned it every time she came up in conversation. Stress was making me forgetful.
"I'm in med school. I would actually like to be a brain surgeon." She was twirling the pasta
