Em usually felt like Quentin Blake, CFO of Novatech, and Quentin, the guy she was hooking up with, were two separate entities. He was always bitchy at work, and it had never affected their nights together. But when she saw that text from Quentin, all she could think about was Quentin Blake glaring daggers at her friend for daring to comfort her when she was struggling. 'Why are you touching her' who the fuck did he think he was? She sent him some one-word reply and threw her phone in her bag.
She was still mad about it when she got home. Then she looked at her phone again and remembered she had way more important things to be worried about. Three missed calls from 'Acute Healthcare Systems', a bullshit name for a bullshit company. These days debt collectors had to come up with some fancy name to cover up the fact that they were the same thugs they'd always been. She'd already made her payment for the month. Her bank account was alarmingly low because of it, but she'd done it. She had the receipts. Whatever other bullshit they wanted to bother her about could wait. Em kicked off her heels and collapsed into her bed. She could honestly just go to sleep. Who needed dinner? A shower would be amazing, though. A hot shower, ideally. If there was any hot water left in this fucking building. These assholes… at this point, Em didn't even know who she was referring to. The debt collectors? The shitty landlord? Quentin fucking Blake? It could be any one. Maybe all three.
Her phone buzzed, and she ignored it. Then it buzzed two more times and she groaned. Reluctantly, she rolled over and grabbed her phone.
FB: R u actually busy
FB: Or r u just avoiding me
FB: We need to talk
Em: We really don't
FB: So u r mad
Em: Obviously, which is why we shouldn't meet up today.
FB: When can we meet up then?
Em: Idk
FB: ???
Em: I'll let you know if I want to link.
Em turned her ringer off and put her phone on the bedside table. She'd had enough bullshit for one day. She pulled the covers around her and burrowed into her pillow. She fell asleep before she could think about anything.
She woke to the sound of her Marco-ringtone. She answered the call without fully waking up.
"Hello?"
"Yo, Em."
"What."
"Benz boy is outside your door."
"What?"
"Benz boy…"
"No, I heard you. I meant what the fuck is he doing here?"
"Fuck if I know. He's been here for like, twenty minutes."
"Are you sure it's him?"
"Yeah, girl, I'm looking right at him. He looks kinda familiar. Do I know him from somewhere?"
"No." Em jumped out of bed. "Don't talk to him."
"Already did, babe."
"Fuck off, Marco." Em swung the door open. Sure enough, Quentin Blake was standing there. Marco was right next to him, grinning like an idiot.
"Morning, sleepyhead."
"Go home, asshole." She yanked Quentin inside before she could think better of it.
"Dinner later?"
"Sure, later. Leave, bitch." She shut the door in his face. She turned to Quentin, who was standing in her studio apartment in an Armani suit. Normally he had the sense not to wear something so gaudy to this neighborhood.
"What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you."
"You can't just show up here."
"But you weren't replying to my texts."
"Yeah, because I don't want to talk to you right now."
"But…"
"What the fuck, Quentin? Actually what the fuck." She crossed her arms, preparing for some bullshit answer, but he was silent. "Well?"
"I wanted to apologize." He said.
"That's it? You did not have to come all the way just for that."
"I wanted to say it in person."
"Then you could have waited until I texted you to meet up again."
"It couldn't wait. It's important."
"To you, sure. I have other shit going on. What if I wasn't here?"
"I would have waited."
"You're insane. What did you think was going to happen? You'd give me some half-assed apology and I'd fall into bed with you?"
"No! I'm not here to fuck, Emilia. I just want to talk."
"Don't call me that." Em was fuming. Who the FUCK did he think he was? She was breathing way too hard and her heart was pounding. She turned around. Suddenly, she couldn't bear to look at him. "Please leave."
"Em…"
"Please!" She clenched her fists and tried to control her breathing. Her head was spinning. As soon as he left she could get back in bed and sleep until tomorrow. She wouldn't have to think about anything for a while.
Warm solid arms wrapped around her as Quentin buried his face in her neck. She leaned into him purely on instinct, only knowing that the warmth of his body was irresistible.
"Em…please…" Quentin whispered into her skin. "Please… let me stay." Em was so mad and frustrated but the dams holding back her grief had broken and she was flooded with emotion. This time she sobbed. Her knees went weak and she nearly fell, but Quentin caught her and took her in his arms like it was nothing. He walked to the bed and laid her down under the covers, then climbed in next to her. A part of Em knew she should complain, but it felt too good to be held, and she could barely get any words out. She hadn't cried like this in months. She thought she'd gotten stronger. She thought she could handle it now. But it all came tumbling down so quickly.
As good as it was to be held, Em didn't want these arms. They were only a pale imitation of what she craved. She wanted her mom and dad to comfort her. She wanted her baby sister back. But they were long gone… They said time would heal all wounds, but even after so many years there was a gaping hole in her chest, one she could barely keep from overflowing. These past few years she'd built a wall she thought would never fail, but apparently all it took was one little reminder of what she used to have. She missed her home. She missed her family.
After a while her sobs dwindled down to sniffling and half-choked gasps for air. Her face must have been a mess, but she couldn't bring herself to care. There was no chance of her hooking up with Quentin again. A guy like him knew when to cut and run. He must have thought she was crazy.
"Em?" He whispered. She didn't want to explain herself.
"I'm tired."
"Okay…okay. Go to sleep, then."
"You can let yourself out," is what she meant to say, but she was already drifting off.