Roommates

chapter 16

Lee

I tossed another letter from the 'Penn' guy in the trash.  Every now and then, he'll send a letter and it'll go straight to the garbage.  Zola hasn't said a thing about who he is or why he's so persistent, but it's clear that he's a sore topic for her.  I'm trying my hardest to respect her privacy, but I can't help but wonder what this guy wants from her.

Five quiet knocks shook me out of my thoughts, I took a deep breath and sighed.

Time to get this over with.

I opened the door wide enough to let Brynn in and waved her into the kitchen with me.  Zola told me about the coffee shop and I realized I couldn't let the situation escalate any further.  The last thing anybody needs is Lennox or Daya in jail for defending their best friend.

I hoped the first talk I had with Brynn would've fixed something, but she's obviously not a girl you can let down easily.

"Brynn, what's the issue?" I jumped into it and broke the seal around my Gatorade, I don't have the time for games or beating around the bush.

"I don't know, Zola's crazy.  I think she's jealous of me and our relationship." Brynn shrugged confidently as if there wasn't a thing wrong with what she just said.

I sighed and took a large gulp of my drink.

"I bet she didn't tell you about how she tried to sic her dogs on me at the coffee shop, did she?"

"Be respectful, Brynn, and stop playing with me.  We're too damn grown for this, I talked to you about this already and you still on some bullshit, what's not clicking?" I was raised to respect and be mindful of women and I planned to respect Brynn.  

However, I have things to do today and the blatant ignorance she holds towards her issues and rudeness towards Zola is making me feel a little disrespectful.

"Are you fucking dumb, Lee?" I raised my eyebrows and sat the plastic bottle down.

"I beg your pardon?" I coughed out, trying my hardest to understand how this escalated so quickly, and who the fuck she think she talking to.

"Lee, I have feelings for you!  Ever since I started working at the lab I've wanted you!  Are you really telling me you had no fucking clue?" I looked at Brynn and blinked a few times, then steadied my gaze towards the marble countertop.

I had no clue.  I never even saw her that way, she's been working with me and my mom for a while now, and I never caught a hint of that.  Even if I did, I couldn't reciprocate it.

"Brynn..."

"I know what you're going to say." She turned away and covered her face with her hands.  The woman's bare shoulders dramatically rose and fell and she began to... squeak.

This is a little awkward, I don't think she knows, but she didn't turn around all the way so I can tell she's not really crying.  I scratched the back of my head and opened my mouth to speak, but immediately closed it.

I don't know what to do.

I know she has to go.  Zola is one of the most important people in my life, if you can't respect her and our relationship, then you gotta kick rocks.  But how am I supposed to say that to my co-worker fake-crying in my kitchen?

"Brynn, stop, I'm uncomfortable." She sighed and automatically stopped the fake sobs.  I scoffed under my breath and shook my head.

"Listen, I'm sorry, but I don't feel the same way.  I already told you what was up with my girl and you kept on with that weird shit.  I apologize for any confusion, but this friendship is done.  We're gonna keep things strictly professional until your internship is up." I nodded and watched her face contort into several unreadable expressions.