I Got You ~ C.B

THIRTEEN

The next couple of weeks become him. I spend most of my time with him, seeing him at least once everyday. When I film, he's in the video or behind the camera. He's become a guest star in my vlogs. And vice versa. We accompany each other doing most everyday things. Having most meals together, staying at each other's places every other night. We haven't had the 'talk', and haven't felt the need to. We know what we are without needing to verbally confirm it. What we probably should talk out, we haven't yet, is how we should approach social media with our relationship as such. Go public, deny rumours, how much we should show of each other. I decide to bring this up when I see him today for dinner. I'm meeting him at his and he'll drive us to my favourite burger place at The Grove from there. So I finish my meeting, and head home to freshen up. I catch Diana as she's heading out to work. She's got a management position at a restaurant downtown. Back home she was a hostess at one off our family friend's restaurants- so he's provided her with a position at his LA location, which she's stoked about.
"Seeing Colby again?"
She asks, walking around the kitchen gathering all of her things into the Guess bag she bought herself the other day with her new pay check. I tell her
"No, actually."
She perks up and turns to face me
"Why? Something wrong with you two?"
I shake my head, chuckling
"Of course I'm going to see him!"
She sighs, smiling
"And all was right in the world once more."
Coming past me, we hug and she leaves to meet her Uber outside. I've decided we need cars. I'm going to get us cars. Or maybe we go halves in one we share. We'll see. I have a shower, and get changed into a fresh pair of black jeans, Doc Martens and yellow Tommy Hilfiger tee before heading back out to catch my own Uber to Colby's. Definitely need a car. I call him when I'm there. He'll usually answer after a couple rings and say something like 'buzzing now', and I'll be able to get up to his floor. He doesn't answer after a couple rings, ringing out. Odd.
"Oh, Alaska dear. How are you today?"
A lady who lives on the first floor and I see most days is checking her mail again when she sees me. She's always checking her mail when I see her. If I had to guess, I'd say she's in her mid sixties. She lives with her husband, and I think she checks her mailbox everyday to see if her kids have sent any postcards. She has mentioned her children are away traveling with their family or significant other. I've chatted with her an hour about it last week. I smile at her
"Hi Mrs Everet. Not to bad. How's your day?"
"Mr Everet started complaining as soon as he woke up today, so good."
I laugh, telling her
"I could make him another pie with Colby if that will brighten his mood?"
She waves if off, taking out another postcard from her mailbox
"You're too sweet, dear. He'll get over it."
I chuckle, and she notices
"Need to be buzzed in?"
I shrug
"Kinda."
She tells me
"I'll head in and buzz it for you. You kids have fun now."
"You too Mrs Everet. Thank you."
She walks back to her room. She has got to be the most spritely elderly lady I've met. A minute later, the gate unlatches and in step into the complex. I get up to his, Sam's and Jake's floor, making my way to his apartment at the end and attempt to twist the handle to open the door. It's locked this time. Odd again. Usually he unlocks it after I call so I can just waltz on in. I take out the key he's given me for emergencies, we exchanged keys last week. Letting myself in, I wish I hadn't. Seeing him sat on the couch, looking up at Shea- the girl from the bonfire four years ago- as she speaks. I stand in the doorway, unsure what I've just stepped into. They both look engrossed in the conversation. I attempt to think about it rationally before they notice I've entered. My first thought- he didn't answer my call because he's with SHEA! And secondly- but nothing looks incriminating here. They're talking. Third and foremost- what's my next move here? How do I react? The high road. I exit and re-enter the room like I hadn't already been in here. I enter making more noise, talking about my day
"Baby! The meeting went so good. They made the first of my designs and they're perfect."
I walk right up to him on the couch, dropping down beside him and kissing his cheek, pretending I haven't even seen her standing there. I pretend to notice once I've sat down
"Oh hey," I extend a hand out to her "Alaska, nice to meet you."
She does the same thing she did last time I met her, if you can even call that a meeting. Eyeing my hand and averting her eye contact back to Colby
"I'll call you later."
She tells him, walking out without another word. We watch after her, and a minute later, Colby turns back to me
"I can explain."
I shake my head
"You don't have to explain a thing, Colby. I'll just head home and you can come hang when you're ready. You better go catch up with Shea though."
He stands, following me as I make a move to leave
"Rey..."
He catches my wrist before I can make it out the door, in the kitchen.
"Rey! Hey."
I turn back to him, head tilted.
"It's okay, Colby. You can hang out with whoever you want to."
He raises an eyebrow
"You're not mad?"
I match his expression
"Do I have anything to be mad about?"
"No."
"Well... Okay. I'll see you later."
He catches me again
"Babe- don't go."
I tell him
"Colby, I'm not mad but I'm going to need a minute to meditate."
He searches my eyes, admitting
"I don't know what to do. This isn't usually how it goes."
I shrug
"What did you expect?"
"Most people would get mad and demand an explanation and storm out afterwards. You being so calm is scarier to be honest."
I ask
"Would an explanation make you feel better?"
"Maybe."
Accepting, I slide up on the counter, nodding at him
"Okay. Go."