I Was Working Late, He Was Eating My Food and Falling for My Best Friend Chapter 01

I Was Working Late, He Was Eating My Food and Falling for My Best Friend Chapter 01

When I got home after working late, I discovered that my boyfriend had eaten the takeout I had ordered in advance.

His eyes stayed on his computer screen as he answered without concern.

“How was I supposed to know? You never said anything. There’s half a dinner roll in the kitchen. Try coming home earlier next time.”

I stood there, stunned.

“Ethan Carter, do you think I want to get home this late? Do you have any idea how long my commute is? I told you we shouldn’t rent this place…”

His expression darkened. He pressed a finger to his lips.

“Keep it down. Lily’s asleep. Don’t wake her.”

I could not get another word out.

After college, Lily Foster, Ethan, and I had all found jobs in Bayport. They worked on the east side, while my office was in West Bayport—nearly twenty miles from home and three subway transfers away.

Ethan had chosen an apartment in East Bayport without a second thought.

“You don’t start until ten. A longer commute won’t hurt you. Besides, if I get home early, I can bring you dinner when you work late.”

In six months, he had never done it once.

The bedroom door opened. Lily rubbed her eyes and complained softly.

“Annie, could you keep it down? We all have work tomorrow.”

Ethan went straight to her and lowered his voice soothingly.

“Go back to sleep. She’s just in a bad mood. Ignore her.”

Something inside me snapped.

Without a word, I reached for the suitcase by the wall.

***

“What are you doing?”

Ethan frowned.

“I ask you to lower your voice and suddenly you’re leaving? Anna, are you serious?”

Lily’s face shifted. She turned on him.

“Stop it, Ethan. Your girlfriend is upset. Go comfort her.”

Then she linked her arm through mine, her tone sweet and placating.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. And don’t blame Ethan. He’s terrible at expressing himself. He just wishes you could get home earlier.”

“When the lease is up, we’ll find somewhere closer to your office. Okay? It’s late. Let’s not make this into a whole thing.”

A whole thing.

After so many late nights at the office, I was too exhausted to argue.

All I wanted was to get home at a decent hour and have something waiting for me to eat. How had that become too much to ask?

My hands stopped moving. Lily shot Ethan a look. He took the suitcase from me and picked up his phone.

“I shouldn’t have eaten your food. I’ll order you something else, Annie.”

My stomach ached so badly that I simply nodded.

Lily’s eyes lit up.

“Get me something too. That barbecue place from last time was good. And two beers.”

Ethan immediately refused.

“You’re on your period. You shouldn’t be drinking. I’ll order something mild. Don’t eat too much.”

Lily wrinkled her nose but said nothing.

While we waited, the two of them started playing a video game. The food finally arrived thirty minutes later. It was a cold burrito bowl loaded with corn. A greasy film had formed across the top.

I hated corn.

Lily loved it.

I had been hungry for so long that I barely felt it anymore. I drank some water and went to my room. The flimsy door did little to block the sound of them laughing over their game.

I tossed and turned all night.

The next morning, I woke with a splitting headache beneath a dark sky. A hurricane warning appeared on my phone, and only then did I realize I had forgotten my umbrella.

After work, I held my bag over my head and ran to the subway station. Service had already been suspended.

I called Ethan.

“The subway is shut down. Can you come get me?”

There was noise on his end, mixed with Lily’s laughter.

He answered without hesitation. “Sure. Wait there.”

Forty minutes passed. He never came.

When I called again, impatience had crept into his voice.

“Can you stop rushing me? Your office is all the way across town. It takes time.”

I said nothing.

A passing car sent a wave of filthy water over me. My clothes were soaked. When the wind hit, I realized I was shaking.

An hour and a half passed. Still no Ethan.

I caught my reflection in the station window. My clothes were soaked, my lips were pale, and I looked miserable.

My phone rang.

“Something came up,” Ethan said. “I don’t think I can make it. I’ll send you some money. Just get a rideshare home.”

“What happened?”

His voice held an urgency he did not seem to notice.

“Lily saw a cockroach. She’s under the blankets crying. I’ve been trying to calm her down, but she won’t let me leave.”

Then he blamed me.

“You really need to clean more. Cockroaches don’t just appear in a clean apartment.”

My chest tightened. I curled my fingers into my palm and forced a bitter smile.

“Ethan, that apartment was supposed to be our home. But it has never felt like mine.”

He had already hung up.

I tilted my face toward the ceiling and blinked back my tears. Then I opened the message my boss had sent half an hour earlier.

Anna: [Ms. Collins, I’m accepting the position in Millbrook.]