A few days later, Saturday…
how's the guest room?
are you comfy?
this isn't a house
this is a literal resort
the thread count on these sheets is higher than my gpa 😭
glad you like it!!!
i'm actually heading over to julian's house in a bit for a movie marathon
been a while since we saw each other and yk...
gooooo
don't worry about me
i'll be resting after i unpack
quick question though
saw your dad in the hallway when i was going to the room
i smiled at him but he didn't say hi
he just stood at the door of his office and watched me
he was kinda unmoving
he looked intense
is he mad i'm here?
omg no
dw about him!
he's just socially awkward and stressed about work 24/7
he honestly prob didn't even realize he was staring
he zones out all the time thinking about stocks or whatever
he's harmless, i promise
just a grump
ignore him like i do
didn't feel like he was zoning out tbh
more like checking the inventory
looked me right in the eye when i bent down to pick up my suitcase too
LMAO what does that even mean 💀
you're overthinking it!
he's just a boomer dad being weird
anyway stop worrying about him and come to my room!
wanna show you my new bikini haul before i leave for julian's 😈
i need your opinion on the blue one
i'm on my way!
That same day…
hey, baby 🥺
are you ready for me??
escaping the asylum rn
thought u just got home?
everything good?
yeah, just a bit chaotic
mom is tearing the house apart looking for her passport
and my dad is in zombie mode
locked in his office staring at screens
i need to get out 🏃
be there in 5 mins?
cool
the door's unlocked
wait
what about your friend?
she's getting settled in the guest room
so u're just gonna leave her there alone?
on her first day?
isn't that kinda rude?
omg no it's fine!
don't make me feel bad 😭
she said she's super tired from the drive and wants to unpack her stuff
said she's gonna rest after and to not worry about her
and tbh i kinda just want to be 1on1 with you tonight 👀
Later…
hey, babe
babe
you awake?
Lily already ditched me to go to Julian's
so i'm all alone in this massive house
it's insane here
even just this guest room is insane, Noah
i have my own balcony and everything
but the bed's too big
feels kinda empty with just me in it 😟
wish you were here to keep me warm
Hey yeah I'm up
Just got out of the planning meeting for the summer retreat
It went way longer than expected
Pastor Dan wanted to go over the curriculum the middle schoolers again
We're doing a whole series on "Purity in a Digital Age"
It's going to be really powerful
I'm leading the Tuesday breakout session
oh
that sounds great, babe!
really happy for you
did you read my texts though?
i said i'm lonely and cold
thinking about you being in this bed with me right now instead of listening to Pastor Dan
do you miss me?
like physically?
because i miss you
really bad
i literally ache for it sometimes, Noah
just imagining your hands on me...
Stop, Amari
Can we not do this right now?
I'm exhausted and my head is full of scripture for the lesson plan
And honestly, talking like that just makes things harder for me
We agreed to boundaries
Sending texts like that isn't fair
If anything, it's a stumbling block
a stumbling block?
seriously??
i'm your girlfriend, Noah
not a temptation from Satan
wanting to be close to you isn't a sin
wanting my BOYFRIEND to want me isn't wrong
It is when we aren't married
Lust is not love, Amari
I'm trying to lead us in the right direction here
Anyway, I don't want to have this conversation over text
I have an early start tomorrow too, we're loading the van at 7am
Go to sleep
You're probably just emotional because you're tired
wow, "emotional"
whatever, Noah
That night…
DIANE
EMERGENCY 🚨🚨🚨
what???
did noah text back?
did you break up???
no fuck Noah
he's useless
it's Lily's dad
i think i just stopped his heart
huh?????????
what happened??
okay so i went down to get water because i was mad at Noah, right
he was at the kitchen working on his laptop
and i walked past him
Di, he didn't just look
he full-on STARED
like he stopped typing
and just watched me as i got myself water
omg
was it creepy tho?
like old man creepy?
NO
that's the thing
it wasn't creepy at all
it was more like he hadn't seen a woman in 10 years
like he was starving
he looked at me like i was steak and he hasn't eaten in months
girl---
not you getting turned on by your friend's dad staring at you
i can't help it!!!
and can you blame me??
my own boyfriend looks at me like i'm sin personified
meanwhile, Arthur looked at me like he wanted to ruin me
it's so different
and i needed that
you're actually insane
wait what were you wearing??
pls tell me it wasn't lingerie
no lol i'm not THAT bold
i was just in my workout clothes
i was planning to work out
he didn't even blink
i think i'm in trouble
yeahhh you're done
o it again tomorrow 🤣
That same night…
Eleanor
Are you awake?
It’s very quiet here at the house
Lily is out
I was thinking about you
I'm feeling a bit disconnected lately
Or maybe lonely is a more apt word to describe it
Can we schedule a call tonight?
Even just for ten minutes Arthur: I'd like to hear your voice
seriously?
i was in the middle of a strategy dinner with the gala committee
because of you, my phone started buzzing on the table and kept at it
it was embarrassing
I just wanted to talk to my wife
Is that so bad?
we can talk when i'm back
i don't have time to hold your hand right now
i'm managing a million things for this family while you sit in that office feeling sorry for yourself
if you're lonely, go to sleep
or work on that merger
i'm going to be late tonight
we still have a lot of planning left to do
t's almost 1am, Eleanor
You should get some rest
and?
the time doesn't matter
success doesn't sleep, Arthur
you used to know that
handle the house matters yourself
and make sure the alarm is set
do not wait up for me to call
i'm turning my phone off now
All right
Understood
Good night
Monday…
Yo
You Alive?
I haven’t heard from you in week
I’m assuming Eleanor has you running errands for the gala again
I’m here
Just working
Same shit
Different day
Well, you sound thrilled
How is the ice queen anyway?
Still "traveling for work"?
She’s at The Plaza
Claims she’s with the committee
But I saw the credit card charge for the suite
It was for two guests
Shit, Artie
You know who it is?
Don’t know
And honestly, I don’t care either
None of that matters
I’ve known for a long time, Mike
She thinks I’m blind because I don’t yell
But I’m done being the ATM for her lifestyle while she plays house with someone else
So what’s the play?
Divorce?
Not yet
Not until Lily is settled
But I’m no longer going to sit around waiting for permission to spend my own money
What money?
I thought she watched the joint accounts like a hawk
I have a separate account
Been playing the market on the side for the last few years
Tech shorts, crypto swings
It’s substantial
Eleanor doesn’t know it exists
Substantial like buy a nice watch?
Or is it the escape plan-type?
Substantial like I could buy a second house in cash tomorrow
What the fuck, dude
But right now, I’m buying a car
A car?
You have the Mercedes
Not a sedan, Mike
I found a '69 ZL1 Camaro
I’m picking it up this afternoon
That’s a collector’s car
Not to mention a muscle car
Be honest with me, Artie
Are you having a mid-life crisis?
No
If anything, it’s a mid-life correction
I’m done with being quiet
I’m tired of it, man
I want to drive something that shakes the damn windows when I pull in
That Camaro’s definitely gonna do just that
I know
Eleanor’s going to hate it
That goes without saying
But you know what?
What?
Fuck it
DO IT, MAN