priorities-2

6

By the time I get home it's late so I wait until the next morning to call Carrie.She answers on the first ring, "Hi Mya! You made it home okay?""Yes, when are you coming back," I forgot to ask before now."Tomorrow night, I want to make sure I get back in plenty of time to get ready forschool."

"That's good, I can't wait to see you," I tell her, she's really determined to do thisphysiotherapy thing. I should be figuring out what I want to do, general courses are awaste of time, when I could be working towards a major or minor. "I drove to John's andtold him I'll give him a divorce. There's nothing keeping us together since I lost thebaby, I know he doesn't love me. He had a girl in his bedroom when I arrived.""You're kidding, what did he say to you, did he have an excuse?" she asks."I didn't make him come up with one, I was kind of sad before I arrived. The girllooked exactly like me. When I told him I'll file, he was taken aback, almost like hedidn't want me to divorce him.""Was it because of Hunter's mom?" she asks

"Partly," I admit, "I deserve to have someone who loves me," I tell her."You do, by the way you'll never guess who's been asking about you! Elliot wasstunned when I told him you went back to Canada without saying good-bye to him. Ithink he took a liking to you, to be honest," Carrie tells me."That's all I need," I say sarcastically. "I liked him before I met him, now I canbarely stand the guy."

"I think that's just the way he is.""I have no interest," I cut her short. "I'm not into womanizers, it's time I considermy feelings and my future, everything else will fall into place.""You're making a lot of sense Rita," Carrie compliments me."What time will you be home tomorrow night?" I ask."Ten-ish.""Call me from the airport I'll pick you up.""Don't bother," Carrie says, "Hunter always arranges for my transportation, but wecan have dinner when I get home, I'll be starving."

 

"Should I order or cook?" I ask."Whatever you feel like doing," she says pleasantly, "I'm really proud of you Mya.""Thanks," I smile. I can't wait until she gets home.

I spent the afternoon cooking for Carrie's return home. She loves my mac andcheese casserole, so I do it extra creamy for her and pick up a quart of her favourite icecream. I've been looking forward to her return all day.I hear the door and go running to it, opening it before she manages to put the key inthe lock. It's not her, I'm startled by the realization and slam the door shut in the person'sface."Mya," Elliot calls out, "open the bloody door."I'm still shocked, "Where's Carrie?" I call out through the door."She's coming with Hunter the day after tomorrow, she gave me her ticket, it wasmy idea, I wanted to surprise you," he calls through the door. "Open the door," he callsout again.

I open it and he looks ticked. He's in another disguise, he's a guy this time, it'sbetter than the girl."Why are you here?" I ask perplexed.He removes his sunglasses and hat, shaking out his hair, "I wanted to see you, don'tbe daft.""She told you I'm giving John a divorce," I surmise."Maybe," he admits. "I have to be in Dublin the day after tomorrow," he tells melike it matters or something. Then I wonder if he thinks he's staying here or not."Where are you staying," I ask out of curiosity."Here?" he asks."I only have one bed," I tell himHe claps his hands together, "This just keeps getting better!""You'll have to get a hotel.""No, I want to sleep with you," he insists, I won't try anything."I made her favourite food, I'm going to kill her," I threaten.

"She had your best interests at heart, don't be mad at her," he defends. "What didyou make?" He asks interested."Mac and cheese casserole, ice cream for dessert."He rubs his palms excited, "I'm in!"I role my eyes, "Seriously?!"

 I text her: 

Me: You just wait until you get home! 

Carrie: Couldn't resist, have fun or kill each other, see you in a few days. 

Me: If you're lucky!

I grab the oven mitts and pull Carrie's dinner from the oven. "This looks delicious,"Slasher says watching me."You want me to believe with all the fancy restaurants you and your brother go to,THIS looks appetizing?""For sure, nothing beats a home cooked meal, mum hasn't cooked for Hunter ormyself in years, I pour two large glasses of milk and we sit at the dining table acrossfrom each other."Do you want some music while we eat?" I offer."Sure," he says.

I program my phone to play and his number one hit comes on. Slasher looksdispleased, "No! Play anything but me," he says like hearing himself is going to drivehim crazy."Sure," I pick the phone up again and switch it out for someone different. "Is thisbetter?""Yes," he relaxes into his chair. "It's just weird listening to myself on downtime."I dig my fork into dinner and blow on it to cool it, before putting it in my mouth. Itturned out good this time, Carrie would have enjoyed it. I sip my milk. I consider what itwas like before he came, and I'm glad if Carrie isn't here at least he is."Carrie told me you went to John's and you said you will divorce him.""There's nothing really keeping us together anymore and I kind of listened to yourmum.""She said he was with a girl that looked like you," Slasher continues.

That hurt," I admit. "I figured he was probably cheating on me but so quickly afterlosing our baby, I don't even care that the girl he's with looks like me.""It must have sucked," Slasher empathizes. "Carrie didn't want you to be alone.""So, she sent you?""I wanted to come," he admits. "It's a great getaway, even if it's just for a couple ofdays.""If you would have told me even as little as five days ago, that I would be hangingout with a Rockstar," I comment. "I'd say you're having me on!""I'm just Elliot," he corrects."Oh ya, that rude dude I met in Paris.""You don't have to go that far," he stops me. "You came off as the same as the restof my fans at first, but you tried getting me mobbed and you left without saying goodbye. You're just as rude!""Why would you expect me to go out of my way to say bye to you when I'mCarrie's friend?"He shrugs, "I guess I shouldn't have. This is so good," he compliments my food,closing his eyes to savour it."Sure," I say in disbelief. He takes second helpings of dinner but isn't interested inthe ice cream. "You really want to stay here?""Wouldn't mind if I do," he takes it as an offer."What now?" I ask turning off the late dinner music, "It's too late to start a movie,are you watching any series on television?""I don't get much time," he admits. "Can we shag?""Sorry, I'm not a groupie and you are kind of old, or were you kidding?""I guess I was kidding," he's unaccustomed to rejection from the looks of it.I maintain my modesty and change in the bathroom, and we go to bed.