𝐌𝐘 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍 | 𝖩𝗈𝖻𝖾 𝖡𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗁𝖺𝗆

¹². 𝖿𝗈𝗈𝗍𝖻𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗂𝗇𝗏𝗂𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 𝖠𝖫𝖤𝖷 𝖵𝖠𝖫𝖤

OKAY, MAYBE JOBE has to worry about Eli. I didn't think I would, too. I mean, Ava was the one who told me he was definitely interested in me and how we'd look good together. That pisses me off more than it should.

Recently, Ethan and Layla dragged me to Eli's house for this coworker thing. I wasn't in the mood to go, but apparently, it was some "unwritten rule" that everyone had to attend. Honestly, I would've rather stayed home, wrapped up in my blanket, and watched Netflix.

The whole time Eli was talking to me, I couldn't help but wish it was Jobe instead. That's why I FaceTimed him while I was there, even though I knew I couldn't keep him on long because of his practice. Just hearing his voice, even for a little while, calmed me down.

Meanwhile, Ethan and Layla were too busy arguing over food to notice the awkwardness I felt around Eli. They bickered like an old married couple, completely oblivious to the subtle tension in the room.

The rest of the coworkers—Mia, Leo, and of course, Ava—were doing their own thing. Mia and Leo kept to themselves, occasionally chiming into conversations but mostly staying in their corner. Ava, on the other hand, was her usual self, floating around and making comments that made me wonder if she thought she was Cupid.

I didn't really talk to Mia and Leo, though. We worked together, but that didn't mean we were friends. And that's probably on me—I should start making more of an effort with them. But right now, I couldn't even focus on that. My mind was somewhere else entirely. Or more specifically, with someone else.

I caught myself glancing at my phone, wishing for another text or call from Jobe. Anything to pull me out of this weird situation. Eli was polite and friendly, but it didn't matter. He wasn't Jobe.

I'm not even joking—I genuinely need to leave. It's currently 8 a.m., and I've been here since 5. How am I still alive?

"So, what do you like to do?" Eli asked, casually popping one of my Skittles into his mouth like we were best friends.

I stared at him blankly, too exhausted to even care that he was eating my candy. "Um... I don't know." My tone was as dead as I felt inside.

Eli chuckled awkwardly, like he was trying to fill the silence. "Well, I like to read books."

Cool. Good for you. I didn't fucking ask. I didn't even have the energy to pretend I cared.

"I like to sleep," I said flatly, hoping he'd catch the hint that I wasn't in the mood for small talk.

Eli laughed like I'd just told the funniest joke in the world. "Sleep is great, but come on, there's gotta be more to you than that."

No. No, there isn't. At least not right now. I just want to eat my Skittles in peace, leave this house, and maybe call Jobe again.