City After Dark

Chapter 5

I was content to let Winston's words sit at the back of my mind whilst I went about the rest of my day. I distantly regarded them, rather than deliberated, but eventually came to the decision that I would call Nathan before bed. Around eleven pm, I slipped into my pajamas--an oversized shirt and some comfortable underwear--and then under my weighted duvet. I turned off the lamp on my bedside table, and a single, thick piece of light from outside, a combination of the fierce scattering of stars turning far above, and the apartments lighted by street lamps, fell across my floor, illuminating parts of the room. I opened Nathan's contact and hesitated, then, shaking my head to dispel my doubts, pressed call. He picked up on the second ring.

"Who is this?" I rolled my eyes.

"I know you have me as a contact, dumbass." Nathan laughed. 

"I know, I know. Anyway, what's up?" I bit my lip, unsure how to breach the subject.

"Not much," I lied, "Just checking up on everything. How is my niece and nephew?" Nathan exhaled profoundly.

"Elias woke up at an ungodly hour, right at the ass crack of dawn, bawling his eyes out—" I winced. As much as I loved my brother's kids, I did not envy Nathan his position.

"—And then Danny refused to go sleep on time. I just got her down ten minutes ago." 

"Yikes," I said.

"Yikes is correct. But otherwise everything's fine. Everyone's sleeping now."

"That's good. Very good." The conversation fizzled down.

"Well, I'm going to head to bed soon," Nathan began, just as I said,

"We need to talk about something." He paused.

"Oh? What's up." I settled back into my mattress, but as much as I tried to get comfortable I couldn't.

"Thursday, with Andrey."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"It sucked," I said. Nathan made a sound of surprise.

"Sucked?"

"Yeah," I continued, "Surely you noticed your "best friend" being a dick to me all evening?"

"Oh." Nate seemed to ponder what I said, and eventually he said, "Come on Dede, he was joking."

"He literally insulted my job!" 

"Cassidy, you have the same job," Nathan exclaimed.

"No," I snapped, "We're in the same field. We do not have the same job." Nathan sighed long-sufferingly.

"Andrey's a good guy. He has good intentions. Maybe he didn't realize he was hurting your feelings."

"My feelings aren't hurt," I protested. "I'm just annoyed that he thinks it's okay to talk to me like that." 

"Dede," Nate said cautiously, "Does this have anything to do with the fact that he rejected you when we were younger? Maybe you're still a little upset about that and it's just transferring over." I bolted upright. 

"How do you know about that?" Nate was silent.

"Andrey told you, didn't he?" I was positively fuming.

"This has nothing to do with that. I'm appalled you would even say that!" 

"I was just making a suggestion," Nate said defensively. 

"I don't appreciate your suggestion," I snapped. I took a deep breath, calming myself down. "Andrey is your friend. If you can't keep him in check I will not be joining you two for drinks again. So I suggest you talk to him." 

"Okay Dede," Nate said, sighing heavily once more. "Goodnight. I love you." 

"Goodnight," I said softly, feeling remorseful for grilling him. "I love you Nate."