There's No Way

Pineapple & Jalapeño

Long, monotonous meetings are never fun. Especially when your coworker Gerry is letting out silent-but-deadly mystery gases next to you as he's starting to doze off. I quickly glance over to Shawn who, to my surprise, was already looking at me. He flashed an embarrassed smile and then quickly looked down at his lap as if he'd been caught. Had he been? Oh god, did I have something in my teeth? Was I missing an earring? These pesky hoops had a tendency of falling out periodically. Was my hair a mess? Oh my god - does he think the smells Gerry is emitting are coming from me? 

"Calm down, Camila." I whispered to myself, too quietly for anyone to hear. But why was he staring at me? And why did he seem embarrassed when I caught his gaze? Whatever, I have a tendency to exaggerate what I'm seeing. It was probably nothing - brush it off.

The meeting was dismissed and we all stood up from around the conference room table. I stalled for a moment so I could walk out with Shawn.

"Remind me to sit as far away from Gerry as possible next meeting." I whispered to the tall brunette. He smirked.

"Yeah, I've made that mistake before. Tons of fun holding your breath for and hour long meeting, isn't it?" He replied as I pretended to throw up in my mouth. He immediately laughed at my dramatic antics, but I quickly noticed his attitude shift. Something was clearly plaguing him. I assume it was the same thing that gave him reason to ask to hang out with me later. Everything in me wanted to ask him right then and there, but I knew if he had asked to talk to me after work there was probably a good reason. So despite my selfish curiosity, I kept my mouth shut and offered a comforting smile.

4:59 pm

I anxiously stared at the clock waiting for the minute to pass. As I started to pack my things, a warm and familiar voice chimed behind me.

"So...do you want to just follow me to my place?" he asked. I smiled and nodded. We walked out of the building together until the distance between our parking spaces forced us to separate. I got into my car and took a deep breath. I was a flood of emotions - anxious, happy, scared, nervous, excited and a few other feelings so indescribable that I'm not even sure they have formal names. Strange enough, I wasn't nervous about going to the home of my handsome friend for the first time - I was more anxious about what could possibly be bothering him. It had to have been something serious; I had never seen him as down in the dumps as he had been today. I slipped my manicured fingers around the steering wheel and nervously tapped my fingers against it as I drove.

I followed him until he pulled into the driveway of a small, but well maintained brick house. I parked my car and got out to see Shawn standing at his door waiting for me. He flashed me a humble smile as I made me way up to him and he unlocked the front door.

His house was well decorated - minimalistic and masculine, but still very charming and homey. I attributed most of that to his fiancée, Carly. I didn't know much about her, but I did know that she was very well put together, especially compared to the clutter and chaos that is my life.

"Is Carly here?" I asked bluntly. His facial expression shifted and I could tell immediately that he wasn't in the mood to answer that question. We both soaked in the uncomfortable silence for a moment.

"I called and ordered the pizza on the way here, so it should be here any minute." he said. Yeah, definitely didn't want to talk about Carly right now. Noted.

He gave me a quick tour of his place, with the exception of his bedroom. Fair enough, I'd probably do the same if I were in his shoes. Soon enough our tour is interrupted by the doorbell ringing. He scurried over to the front door to collect our grub while I waited in the living room. I heard him thank the delivery boy before shutting the front door and walking into the living room to join me.

"I would ask if you wanted to watch a movie or something, but I'm worried if we start watching a movie I'll never actually say what I need to say," he proclaimed as he plopped the pizza box down on the floor in front of the couch, plopping himself on down on the floor next to it. I quickly joined him on the floor and tried to ignore the anxious feeling that was bubbling up in me upon hearing is declaration of needing to tell me something.

He opened up the pizza box and I couldn't contain the smile the spread across my face. The pizza was split in half: half pepperoni, half pineapple & jalapeño. I don't remember when I told him my pizza toppings of choice, but clearly at some point I had - and clearly he remembered. Then again, I imagine it'd be difficult to forget such an uncommon pizza topping selection. He must've noticed my reaction to the pizza.

"Did I remember correctly?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"You did! I'm impressed. You're a very good listener," I responded.

"Well, I enjoy listening to you."

My heart fluttered. Dammit. I really need to teach it to stop doing that around him. He finished chewing his bite of pizza and cautiously looked up at me.

"I'm really sorry to ask you here so last-minute," he apologized.

"No worries, really. Like I said, it's not like I had any big Monday night plans," I quipped. I saw him shift uncomfortably, as if working up the courage to say what he had been needing to say all day.

"Something happened this weekend and I don't really know how to process it. I thought maybe if I talked it out with someone it would help give me some clarity." I nodded and waited for him to continue speaking.

"Carly cheated on me."