#two jacks

'This one.' Don't talk to me like I'm not in the room, bandit.

When will he stop? Marie thought.

Troy shook her boyfriend David's hand. She saw their hands lock and tighten: the small moment where every man tries to win an even smaller victory. Troy's eyes lit up above his winner's smile. 

The two men exchanged banal words. Troy made a point to sound interesting. David wasn't amused, he didn't care. And why would he? Troy was just an acquaintance of his girlfriend's. Troy wasn't a threat: he was no one.

Goodbyes were said and the night moved on. The dress came off and the pajamas came on. David went to shower. Marie slipped under the sheets. Glasses put away, Marie held her phone close. She had a text. Troy.

10:52pm: Miss you.

Marie locked her phone. When will he stop? David was still in the shower. She unlocked her phone.

10:57pm: Thanks but it's late. You should get some sleep.

She locked the phone again. Placed it on the table. She turned to the bathroom door her boyfriend was behind.

bzzzzzzzzt

She unlocked her phone again.

11:00pm: Only if you'll be in my dreams.

Marie shook her head. Propping herself against her pillows, she texted back.

11:02pm: Wow. So cheesy.

11:02pm: Seriously though, I have a boyfriend. Remember? You can't be talking to me like this.

She stared at her words, waiting.

11:03pm: I know. He seems nice too... but just not what you need you know? Are you really even happy with him?

She locked her phone and dropped it on her lap. The shower had stopped running. She heard the faint sound of humming through the wall. For a moment, she stared at the plain white door he was behind. She watched the steam creep out slowly underneath it, and followed his shadow as it cut into the thin sliver of light shining through.

She picked up her phone.

11:09pm: How could you know? You don't understand how our relationship works. Yes, I'm happy. Goodnight.

She turned it off.

David came through the door naked and humming a song off the radio. A wave of steam and the smell of herbal shampoo followed him. Marie watched David slip into his boxers and night shirt. Their eyes met as he came to bed.

"Hey. What's wrong?" He asked.

Marie hadn't realized she was frowning.

"Oh, nothing." She answered, rubbing her temples.

"Okay." David yawned. He got into bed. His hair dropped small stains of water on the pillow. 

"Goodnight." He said as he turned off the light. 

"Goodnight." She answered.

Marie felt him close, felt the damp warmth of his body next to hers. Heard him breath slower and slower until he was asleep. She laid in the atmosphere of their sheets, eyes open in the dark.

She woke the next day not remembering when she had fallen asleep. David had already left for work. Her own shift started in three hours.

She found her phone by the bed and turned it on.

Two New Messages

11:12pm: Look I'm sorry if I offended you. I'm not trying to piss you off.

11:22pm: I just think you're special. I noticed it when we first met and I've enjoyed you more as I've gotten to know you. I can stop if you want though, and we can just be friends. 

11:30pm: See you tomorrow?

She put the phone down on the bed. She stared at the words it bared. She looked around her room, saturated in morning-light; studied her disheveled bed that smelled of herbal shampoo. She examined her sleepy self in the closet mirror. 

She picked up her phone.

10:17am: I'm coming in at 1:30

10:17am: And yeah we can still be friends.

She rose, and she yawned, and she stretched. She put her glasses on.

bzzzzzzzzzt

10:20am: Looking forward to it.