Simulated Love (2024)

Chapter 5 Continued...

Later that day, I had gone home to change into something a little more comfortable before I went out for dinner. I slipped out of my work clothes and into my favorite black pants, feeling the smooth fabric against my skin. I paired it with a golden-brown ribbed sweater and a black trench coat.

I checked my watch for the time, and it turned out that I still had thirty minutes to spare.

The restaurant was only fifteen minutes away, but with traffic, I could've easily been late if I got sidetracked, so with that in mind, I headed out.

I received a call from Maggie a few minutes into my drive.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Are you on your way?"

"Yeah, are you there already?"

"Almost. I reserved a table for us, by the way, so when you check in, use my name."

"Okay. I got it. I'll pay you back."

"Don't worry about it. Actually, don't worry about paying for anything tonight. It's all covered."

"What the hell are you talking about? I'm not letting you pay for everything. You know how high those prices are."

"Like I said, don't worry about it. I hope you dressed nice."

"I always dress nice. Even when I'm not trying to."

"Okay, good. Well, I'll see you in a bit."

"Okay. Bye." I hung up the call.

A wave of "offness" sent tingles throughout my body. I called it my bullshit senses. It was equivalent to Spidey's senses. Maggie was generous but generous enough to pay for everything at the five-star restaurant we were going to was straight ridiculous. Also, when she told me to dress nice. Since when was she worried about how I dressed?

I had a feeling she was setting me up for something. She probably brought one of her little friends to hook me up with.

"She ain't slick," I thought.

When I arrived, the host greeted me and guided me to Maggie's table, which offered a picturesque view of the city below.

However, there was someone else there. Last time I checked, Maggie wasn't tall, with a clean-cut beard and curly brown hair. Maggie was also not a white man.

"Are you Elijah?" he asked.  I could hear the faint hum of people conversing in the background as I glanced at him.

"No, I'm not actually," I said, my words accompanied by the sound of my footsteps as I turned away. 

As I made my way to the exit, Maggie jumped in front of me which caused me to stop. 

"Where do you think you're going?" She asked.

I resumed walking, the sound of my footsteps echoing in my ears.

"Don't leave," she started. "Stay. Please," she begged as she struggled to keep up with me. "Just give him a chance. I promise I will never do this again."

I stopped and met her gaze with a mix of emotions swirling within me. "Maggie," I said, harder than I intended. "I just want to eat, drink, and sleep. My day was already stressful enough. The last thing I want to do is date. I have no interest in replacing my ex. What don't you understand? I'm done with love and everything involving it."

"Okay." Her eyes met mine. "I'm sorry. We can do your initial idea. Pizza and wine at your house."

"Now you're speaking my language."

So that was exactly what we did, and it was what I needed. It was what we both needed.

Maggie sipped her wine and exhaled.

"What's on your mind?" I asked.

"Just hoping I get the Channel Manager position."

"You don't think you will?"

"I don't know. It doesn't feel like it." She reached for the last pizza and then turned to me. "Do you want the last pizza?"

"Not gonna lie, yeah."

She pulled back. "Eat it. You bought it."

I grabbed the last slice. "But you will get it. You deserve it."

She smiled. "Thank you. So, how's the game going for you?" she asked as she swirled the wine in her glass.

"This stupid ass game isn't going anywhere, man." 

"How come?"

"Chase isn't understanding the business. He wants to make some cutesy groundbreaking romance simulation, and all I'm trying to do is what Dean asked. Which is to make a terrible but good game."

Her eyes met mine. "Can you blame him, though? I'm surprised you even took the offer. You are always the one saying put your best foot forward."

A sigh escaped my lips as I took a sip of my wine. "Yeah, well. I looked at the bigger picture. I don't wanna think too deeply into it, to be honest."

She leaned forward. "I think you should cut Chase some slack."

"Why can't he just listen to me? His company needs this opportunity more than me."

"Okay, but didn't you tell me you hated pushovers once before?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Try to come to a middle ground. If you don't, no game will get done, and that's the worst-case scenario."

Her words resonated with me as I took another sip of my wine. "Yeah, you're right. I'll try to compromise with him on Monday."

"Good...Also I want to say sorry for earlier. I guess I was trying to deal with your problem to forget about my own."

"There's no hard feeling. I know you meant well. I just don't see myself being with anyone soon. Love isn't for me." I nudged her. "But that's why I have a best friend like you. You're all I need."

"Me and your hand," she said, nudging me back.

Her laughter filled the room and as we shared that moment, our worries seemed to have disappeared. Pizza, wine, and a good friend was what we both needed that night.