Just a Matter of Time

Amara

Getting dressed for dinner, I rushed around my apartment, pulling on a dress with a hint of frustration in every motion.

Eric had texted me three hours ago, saying he would pick me up before we headed over to my mother's. Three hours ago. It was already 8 p.m., and dinner was supposed to begin at 7:30.

My frustration mounted with every passing minute, every second that the phone didn't buzz with a message from him. I picked up my phone and rang him again, knowing I'd probably get the same result as before—silence.

I stared at my phone, my fingers tightening around it, waiting for Eric to pick up. The ringing seemed to go on forever, and just when I was about to hang up, he finally answered. "Hey, Amara," he said, his voice far too casual for someone who was an hour late.

"Eric, where are you? Dinner started at 5:30," I said, trying to keep my frustration from boiling over. "Yeah, sorry about that," he replied, sounding distracted. "I got caught up with something."

Of course he did. It was always something. I could feel the frustration rising in my throat. "So, are you still picking me up?" I asked, already knowing where this was headed but hoping—just hoping—he'd say something different this time.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear him exhale like he was thinking. "Listen, I'm running pretty late. Why don't you just head over without me? I'll catch up later." I stood there, stunned for a moment. He knew I didn't drive. He knew I had no other way to get there unless I called an uber, and yet he had the nerve to suggest it like it was no big deal.

"Eric, how am I supposed to get there?" I asked, my voice now laced with barely controlled irritation.

"Oh, right, uh..." He trailed off, as if just remembering. "Well, maybe you could grab an Uber or something? I won't be much longer. I'll meet you there, promise." I was speechless for a moment, the disbelief hitting me like a wave.

This was just like him—expecting me to make do, to adjust while he breezed through life without a care. "Okay," I muttered through clenched teeth. "Great. I'll see you soon," he said, not even catching the frustration in my voice before hanging up.

I dropped my phone onto the couch, feeling the anger simmer just beneath my skin. I wanted to scream, to curse him for putting me in this position once again. Instead, I grabbed my purse and my keys, already dreading the awkward uber ride to my mother's house—alone.

I shoved my phone into my purse, grabbed my coat, and headed out the door, still fuming. The nerve of him. Grab an Uber? Like that was some easy solution. My parents live almost 40 minutes out of the city.

I could barely stand the thought of walking into my mother's house alone, let alone trying to explain why Eric wasn't with me—again.

I stormed out of the elevator, trying to keep my emotions in check, but the second I stepped into the lobby, it felt like everything was crumbling. Of course, I spotted Elisha standing near the entrance, chatting with the doorman.

His eyes flicked to me, and immediately, I saw his expression shift. "Mara," he said, his voice laced with concern as he stepped closer. "You alright?"

I let out a heavy sigh, too tired and frustrated to pretend. "Not really." Elisha didn't push, didn't ask the obvious questions. He just nodded, taking in the tension in my shoulders and the frustration written across my face. "You're supposed to be at dinner with Eric, right?" he said, his tone casual, but it wasn't a question—he already knew the answer.

I gave a bitter laugh, feeling the weight of the situation settle over me. "Yeah, well, that was the plan. But he's late. Told me to grab an uber and meet him there." The words tasted sour as I said them.

Elisha didn't hesitate. "I'll drive you." I blinked, caught off guard. "What?" He shrugged, his expression calm. "I'll drive you over. No big deal." For a second, I just stared at him, unsure of what to say. No judgment, no questions about why Eric had bailed on me.

Just a simple offer to help, without making me feel worse than I already did. "Are you sure?" I asked, still processing his words. Elisha gave me a small smile, already pulling his keys from his pocket. "Of course. Let's go." I opened my mouth to argue, but something about the ease in his voice, the lack of any awkwardness, made me stop.

Instead, I just nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Thank you," I said softly, and he just smiled wider, holding the door open for me as we stepped out into the cool evening air. "Don't mention it," he said.  And just like that, my entire night shifted.

The drive was surprisingly quiet, with only the soft hum of the engine filling the silence. Elisha didn't ask about Eric or press me about what happened—he never did.

He just let me sit there, staring out the window, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. It was one of the things I appreciated most about him. No matter how frustrated I was or how messy things got, he never made me feel like I had to explain myself.

We pulled up to my parents' house, the familiar sight of their porch lights glowing warmly against the evening sky. As soon as the car stopped, I felt a pang of anxiety return. Walking in without Eric was one thing, but I knew my mother was going to ask questions, and I wasn't in the mood to go through the whole song and dance of explaining why he wasn't there—again.

Elisha cut the engine and glanced over at me. "You ready?" I took a deep breath, forcing a small smile. "Yeah." He got out first, walking around to open my door, a gesture he'd done a million times growing up. It was comforting, in a way.

We made our way to the door, and I braced myself as I knocked. Within seconds, the door swung open, and there stood my mother, smiling warmly. "Amara! You made it!" she beamed, pulling me into a hug.

Her eyes flicked to Elisha, and her smile widened. "Elisha, I didn't know you were coming !"

"It was impromptu, Miss Alice," he said with his usual charm, giving her a friendly hug. But then, just as I expected, my mother's eyes darted past us, scanning the driveway.

Her brow furrowed slightly. "Where's Eric? I thought he was coming with you." I felt my chest tighten, and I opened my mouth, trying to come up with an excuse, but Elisha beat me to it. "He got held up," Elisha said smoothly, stepping in as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Amara didn't want to be late, so I gave her a ride. He'll catch up later."

My mother's face softened, but she still looked a bit skeptical. "I see," she said, her tone neutral, though I could tell she wasn't entirely convinced. I forced a smile, hoping to steer the conversation away from Eric. "Yeah, but let's not wait for him. Dinner smells amazing."

Her smile returned, and she waved us inside. "Come on in, then! Your father and brother are in the dining room, and everything's ready." Elisha gave me a quick, reassuring glance as we stepped inside, and I couldn't help but feel a little lighter knowing he had my back.