The Rebound Game

Thirteen

"Congratulations honey," I cut her off. "Do you mind if I hang up? I'll call you later in my cheerleader tone for proper reception of your wonderful news."

 "Why, have you been up all night?"

"I was out for a few drinks with Shirley and let's say I have not stayed out all night in a long time. Bye."

 "Okay. Bye," she finally ends the call with not a hint of dejection in her tone. Usually, it took me more than two minutes to get Annie off a call when she is not busy and from the look of things, it must be a sign that things are finally going my way.
   
 Happening in the order I want them to unfold. So Ollie, pick the damn phone and text me what I really want to hear. Please.

I sleep for what might be seven hours and occasionally waking up to pee. We arrived at around seven after stopping to take breakfast at a hotel not far from my apartment. Shirley hit the sack the moment she called her boss feigning flu and has earned herself two days at home. She left sometime in the afternoon mumbling something about an appointment at the salon.

Around 5 pm, I take a long shower and put on one of Ollie's T-shirts, the one that looked too cute to be left behind. I have worn it too many times that there's no lingering smell of him anymore.

 I suppose that's good for my mental health.

 I decide I am not too moody to flick on channels on TV to find something interesting to act as background noise while I scroll through my phone. I settle on a cooking show and go through my notifications.

Is that a dare?
     
From Christian sent yesterday at 3pm.Wow, I have been offline for over twelve hours. Weird.

 I fly to Kenya soon for a work thing so that's something to look forward to. Goodnight.

 3.13 pm. Hmm, I am also looking forward to disappoint you Bradshaw , I don't do well with blind dates. Or meet ups. Or whatever this is.

  I found this cute baby carrier in a random baby shop along Moi Avenue.
 
 Someone please tell Jessica Odero that I am not in the least bit interested in checking out and aww-ing at baby carriers, baby cots and anything that revolves around babies.

I will not dignify this with a proper response so I leave her on read.

 I reply to Christian instead:       

Well, isn't that just convenient?
          
I am not really in the mood to chat yet. I want to go through my feed and watch you tube videos peacefully without having to endure endless conversations online. Christian is online. I hate him for replying too fast.

I really should clue him a thing or two about texting rules. He seems too nice to receive the same treatment I give annoying admirers when they act too interested to the point that they bore me to death and I have to leave them on read. Every single time.

Very convenient. Even without a work excuse I could still make time to meet you in person.

 Oh my God would you stop being so predictable. And annoyingly nice.

  Who knows, maybe you'll soon get bored with me and find other hobbies.

    I hope he does.
     
With that, I go offline and head to the kitchen to make rice water. I intend to make my hair more voluminous just how hair tutorials on You Tube instructed. It is a bit gross but far much better than the onions and aloe vera. I don't think I am idle enough to withstand what might be a rotten smell.