One in the Same

Ch. 12: Sylvia

The following days came and went, and it was finally time for our welcoming party. Between work, and worrying about Arkyn; it didn't even feel like a party I could even enjoy. The pictures still reeled in my head as to who would have sent them. Jake and I kept coming up short. Ter than the silhouette we found on the security footage we hacked into. We had it planned for a while, but the event kept pushing this idea back over and over again.

And what a perfect time to have it. I was too stressed and tense, and it was making Jake bald, according to him. So nonetheless, why not throw a party to make drunk mistakes...right?

It was more or less people from work, and Jake invited John, while John invited some of his friends -- and then there was me. I liked everyone that I have had the chance to work with within the department, but fuck if could make more friends to talk to. It would make this easier.

Having him here would make things more easier.

I snorted at the single second of a thought of me struggling to make friends at the early thirties age. Checking the time as the chime on the Godfather clock rang out it was 11PM, I dove into the pocket of my jeans, pulling out my phone. The ice in my whatever-numbered drink rattled in my left hand. The breeze from the night hair brushing my hair back off my shoulders, making a slight chill go down my spine. Taking a gulp, I punched in my passcode opening my messages. My heart led me to expect a text message from Arkyn, something at least.

As quick as my heart was to start pushing harder it dropped into my ass just as fast. The last four texts I had sent were left on delivered, and since I had alcohol running through my system, I was thinking the worst. Of course, I knew the worst was one of the last things that could happen -- Yet, I was a woman. And women have insecurities when men take long breaks in between replying. Even though I know where Arkyn is, a part of me still aches to have his attention.

A gust of wind brushed through, whipping my hair around my face, and secluding my eyes from seeing my phone screen. Holding my beer in the crevice of my arm, and tucking the rest of my hair behind my ear, my only free thumb worked to type another message.

"Bitch, there you are." Jake's tone rang out, a heavy sigh followed after. "I've been looking for you for like ten minutes."

"It's a townhouse, there's only so many places that I could be." I deadpanned, huffing in irritation. Why can't my thumb work to move across the damn screen?

"Ooo, someone's had a few Whiskey Lemonades tonight." Jake teased, sitting on the love seat sofa. His right leg crossed over his left, the drink he carried swiveled in his wrist before he took a sip. Pinky out.

"They're my favorite." I mumbled.

"When you're upset about something, sure." Jake countered. I was met with silence. Thick silence.

The temperature out here on the deck rose, along with tension. A chill ran down my spine, but it didn't make me scold. It ignited me. My drink was to my mouth and gulped half of what was left in one go. JAke eyes my movement closely. A frown slowly etching on to his lips.

"Something I can help you with?" I asked. Jake shook his head, still eyeing me in a way that showed me he was concerned without saying so.

"Just seeing if you're having a good time."

"Why wouldn't I be? It's a house party." I spat. Jake hummed in response. What the fuck was his problem?

I scoffed into my cup drinking the rest of the contents, as we eyed one another. Granted, we were roommates and shared damn near everything. Although, it felt as if Jake was hiding something from me.