Lin tried to call Gia after his shower.
Once again getting her answerphone frowning, he left another message.
"Hi, only me... again... just back from tennis. Got thrashed. Jon and Niall are coming over tonight. I think I might be on the final push with the film score." He sighed.
"Call me. Please. I know you're busy Gia, but, please."
He ended the call and sat down at his desk to draft the final parts of the score. Plugging his laptop in he had been working for about an hour when he realised there was an odd smell. Frowning he looked round.
"What the?"
He turned in his chair and shouted. "Iris? Are you burning something?"
Not getting an answer he walked into the kitchen. The room was empty. The apartment quiet.
"She must've gone shopping."
He sniffed again.
Realising the smell had disappeared he went back into the office.
"Jeez! Definitely in here!"
He walked round and eventually found the source, his chair had been resting on the laptop cable, for probably quite a while. The rubber casing worn away exposing bare wires. The smell of burning fish coming off it.
"Damn it!"
He turned off the laptop and unplugged it, taking the offending wire out.
"No way I can keep using that!" Checking the laptop battery he realised he didn't even have enough power to finish what he was doing.
Annoyed with the unprompted break in his work he angrily opened every drawer he could think of in search of another one. Nothing.
He wondered if Iris had one, but realised he didn't know how long she would be out for. He really wanted to get finished.
Walking to her room he knocked on the door.
"What are you doing Lin? You know she's not even in!"
He laughed out loud at himself and stood with his hand on the handle. He didn't want to go in without asking. He backed away and quickly sent a message 'Hey. Sorry to be a damn annoyance! My laptop cable has died. Would you mind if I borrowed yours?'
Iris was trying her hardest to pay attention. Writing down everything she was being told in the shop.
"¡Si! necesita más sofrito."
"More? Really?"
The shop assistant nodded her head vigorously.
"Ok, then I'll take more."
They laughed together as she got another bag out.
Her phone pinged. She looked apologetically as she tried to take the bag and read the message.
"Lo siento." Hoping she had just apologised and not actually insulted anyone.
She walked out of the shop and put the bags on the floor, opening the phone she smiled as she typed 'Of course you can! It's on the table in my room. Excuse the mess though. I was in a rush this morning!'
Lin read the message and pushed the door open. Walking in he scanned the room quickly.
"Ah ha!" Spotting it on the table he walked over, disappointed to realise they were different makes.
"Damn it."
Nothing for it but to go and buy another. He turned to leave the room. Laughing to himself at the clothes strewn on the floor.
"Jesus she even has a floordrobe like Gia."
His eyes drawn to a discarded bra, he stopped quickly, his mind wandering to picture her in it.
"Fuck sake Lin! You're turning into a pervert."
Shocked and embarrassed by his own behaviour he walked out quickly. Shutting the door behind him.
Iris got back to the apartment to find it empty. She turned on the radio for company and smiled as she got the ingredients out.
"Ok, this is either going to be a triumph or smack you straight in the face."
Gia listened to Lin's message.
God he sounded tired, and worried.
She had to call him back, the guilt was overwhelming.
She lifted the phone to her ear and waited as it rang. There was a knock on the door, she answered it and turned off the call.
"Ready?"
She looked at Pete, returning the phone to her pocket.
"Yep. Ready."
Lin grabbed his keys and phone and ran to the subway. He desperately wanted to get the draft away before the deadline tonight.
He jumped on just as the doors were closing and sat down. Pulling his phone from his pocket he realised he had missed a call from Gia.
"Damnit!" No point trying to ring from here. Even if he did manage to get a signal it was so busy he wouldn't be able to hear.
He messaged instead.
'Sorry!!! We keep missing each other. I'll try you later. Hope Anton isn't driving you mad. Love you'
Getting off at the next stop he ran up the steps and walked quickly to the computer shop.
The heavens opened, suddenly soaking him and everyone else. He swore under his breath as he trod in a puddle.
"Lin?"
He rolled his eyes, he didn't mind people stopping him normally but he really had to keep moving. He kept walking pretending not to hear.
"Lin! Hi"
He felt someone standing behind him and turned, a painted smile on his face, which soon turned to shock.
"Anton!"
"Hi! I thought it was you. How are you? Gia with you?"
"I... No... I'm fine. No, Gia isn't here. I thought, I thought she was with you?"
"Me?"
He laughed raucously.
"Why would she be with me?"
Lin was embarrassed.
"I must've got the wrong end of the stick. Sorry. I thought she was meeting you to see the new offices in Philadelphia. My bad. Not listened properly again obviously."
Anton frowned.
"Offices in Philly? First I've heard."
He looked at his watch.
"Hell, is that the time. Better run. Nice to see you again Lin"
He waved as he walked away.
Lin stood. Frozen to the spot. The rain dripping off his hair and down his face. He felt sick. His head spinning.
Iris stood back and looked at her handywork ready and waiting to be cooked. She hoped she had done him justice.
The small Tostones all sorted, the Mofongo ready to go with the chicken once cooked.
She had spent a good hour with the local bodega manager, who had talked her through all the ingredients and left her with specific instructions.
His voice still ringing through her head. "You must! MUST make sure these are cooked till crispy. Never serve them soft. Never."
Deciding she had done all the prep she could for now she turned to go and get ready. Stopping as she heard the door open.
"Oh God! You're soaking."
She laughed as he walked in, dripping water on the carpet.
"Hang on I'll get you a towel!"
Lin stood not really sure how he had even managed to get to the shop and buy his cable, never mind how he got home.
"Here."
Iris passed him a towel and he absentmindedly rubbed his hair.
"Thanks."
She laughed.
"You better take your coat off, I don't think it's proving to be much use."
Lin shrugged it off saying nothing.
Iris looked at his t shirt sticking to his chest.
"Maybe a warm shower would be a better idea."
He nodded.
"Everything ok Lin?"
He turned and met her gaze.
"Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. I won't be long. How about you open a wine. Don't know about you but I could do with a drink."
She nodded.
"Sure."
His phone rang just as he had undressed.
He picked it up quickly.
"Hi."
"Hey bud. Listen I'm so sorry, we are going to have to cry off dinner tonight. Nialls mum isn't well. We really should go over. I'm so sorry."
"Hey, don't give it a second thought. Let me know how you get on."
"I will, please say sorry to Iris as well. We both loved her company today."
He put the phone down, and just got in the shower when he saw it light up again.
Squinting through the steam he made out a message with Gia's name on the screen.
He washed quickly and turned the shower off. Walking out he picked the phone up.
'Oh I missed you again. Honestly this is getting ridiculous. lol!
Yes Anton is being his usual pain in the butt self. Have a great evening with Jon x'
His hands started to shake, he walked out of the bathroom and threw the phone onto the bed.
"Liar Gia.... Liar... How can you....How can you do this to me... to us."
He sat on the bed his head in his hands, tears threatening to engulf him.
