master of none.

013; even though you don't love me, just tell me you love me.

    LYLA
    DO YOU WANT TO MEET MY DOG? WE'RE GOING TO BE AT FLUSHING MEADOWS TODAY

The sound of my phone dinging woke me out of my sleep, and usually, I would have just turned over and the person trying to get in contact with me would have to wait until my eyes were fully open and I had accepted that I had another twenty four hours to get through, but when I saw the name, my eyes shot open and I was upright in bed within a fraction of a second.

I thought the other night was enough to leave a bad taste in Lyla's mouth about me, what with me skipping work to smoke, but surprisingly she wasn't completely turned off.

To: Lyla
isn't flushing meadows the size of like three states or something? you're gonna have to be a little more specific

I checked the time and saw that it was ten on the dot, and I figured I might as well drag myself out of bed. So, while I wait for her to text back, I brush my teeth. And as I'm flossing, my phone dings again.

Lyla
i'll send you my location, we're gonna be there at three

I checked my work schedule and saw that they needed me for about four hours around six, so it worked out fine. I responded and told her that I'd be there.

While I wait for three o' clock to arrive, I busy myself trying to find something on Netflix, and ultimately give up because of their terrible selection, and try Hulu, which also ends in disappointment. So I rummage through my closet to retrieve one of the books I'd packed from Jersey; Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay.

I get a few chapters in before it's two in the afternoon, and I showered and got dressed. A day at the park doesn't call for anything extravagant, so I throw on some jeans and a crop top with a zip up hoodie and call it a day.

Lyla sent her location and as I'm taking the train to Flushing Meadows Park, I felt a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, almost as if I were nervous. Truthfully, I felt as though I was getting my hopes up for nothing, because every time Lyla had an interaction these days, it was either hot or cold, and nothing in between.

And I hated that it'd gotten to this point. I also hate that my feelings seemed to be her toy of choice. I kept thinking about what Luca had been telling me constantly for weeks now, which was to leave her alone, but I couldn't seem to do it. Maybe I'm holding out for her to wake up one day and finally decide that she's done stepping on my feelings with six inch stilettos.

And as if on cue, I get a FaceTime call. It's Luca.

He's shirtless and sweaty with disheveled hair, and I'm immediately disgusted.

"I hope you're not calling me post-sex." I nearly begged him, mentally praying this wasn't the case.

"You really think that low of me?" He tsked. "A man can't go for a run without you throwing his hoe-ish past in his face?"

"It's hard to consider it your past when you're still doing it in the present." I teased him.

"None of us are perfect." He said pseudo-seriously.

I laughed at him. "To what do I owe the honor of your call?"

I recognize his background as his bathroom. He propped his phone on the counter to give me a full body view, his numerous tattoos on full display and began to strip the rest of his clothing, causing my eyes to widen and to shield my phone screen away from anyone around.

"Luca, I'm on the train." I informed him, still looking around to make sure no one was seeing my friend in his birthday suit.

He didn't seem to care, and gestured to his fully nude body that conveniently stopped right before him in all his glory, but you could still see his happy trail.