Wish We Never Started

29

My first week of work was nothing exciting, just the same stuff over and over again. With each day that passed, it became clear that my uncle was letting me off easy.

Now it's Friday at five in the afternoon and I just got home, my clothes shed onto the floor. I stand in my boxers, tapping my chin thoughtfully.

"My arms are getting tired," Diego says, holding up two different business casual shirts for me to look at.

"Can I take both?" I ask.

"Yeah, why not?" He balls them both up and tosses them at my feet. "Ready? Last two."

Diego holds up the last two shirts he brought. One is a collared sweater, definitely giving grandpa vibes but I like it. The second is a baby blue button down, also giving grandpa vibes.

"The sweater," I say. "I'm too scared to pull off baby blue."

Diego checks out the shirt, then looks at me, then back at the shirt. "Eh, you could totally do it."

I shake my head. "I think it might clash with my skin tone. It would look better on you."

Diego sucks air in through his teeth, grimacing at my suggestion. "Definitely not my color. Yours."

He says it so confidently I have no choice but to believe him. "Okay, both again?"

Diego throws the final two shirts my way. "That's all I have, for now."

"Thanks," I say, crashing down on the couch next to him. He's been a huge help in getting me clothes I can actually wear to work and aren't embarrassing. In fact, ninety percent are from him now.

"Have you heard from Sadie?" Diego asks, getting up to walk towards the fridge. He opens it up and takes out two cans of beer, cracking each one open with a fizz.

"No. I'm not sure what to do. Maybe that was supposed to be it? We kiss and our whole relationship implodes."

"Text her," Diego says, coming back over to the couch. He hands me a beer and taps our cans together in an involuntary cheers.

"She never answered my last message. She hasn't texted me back. That means something, right?" I look over at Diego for confirmation.

He shrugs. "Not necessarily. Just text her bro, or I'll have to do it for you."

"Fine," I grumble, standing up to grab my phone from the kitchen counter. While I'm up, I slip my sweatpants and hoodie back on.

Diego watches me type the message while he takes sips of his beer every few seconds.

"Alright, here we go," I say, holding my phone screen out to face him.

"Wait!" He exclaims, setting his can on the floor before he rushes to my side to preview the message. Not that Diego is the smoothest either, but I trust him more than myself sometimes.

"Does it sound okay?" I ask, scratching the stubble on the side of my jaw.

"Yes. Send it," Diego nods confidently.

The message, only ten letters, is sent.

Hey Sadie! Do you want to meet at Lumina tomorrow?

Then, something flashes across Diego's face.

"On second thought, maybe that sounds a little too robotic."

My eyes widen in his direction. Leave it to him to do something like this. "Why didn't you tell me that five seconds ago?!"

I open the message back up, getting my fingers in stance to type a second message. "So what do I say now?"

Diego thinks, his eyes pointed towards the ceiling. "Ummm... I got it! Just say that you miss her or something."