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I could be cruel, but... “No, no emergency.”
“A social call then. That’s unusual.”
Mark has been my best friend since school. He, like me, was always on the outside, never really fitting in. He comes from old money. His parents were older than most when they had him. As a result, he was an only child and mature beyond his years, often finding the antics of the other boys our age tedious. A kindred spirit.
Unlike me, however, he wasn’t top of the class, and was terrible at sports. A misfit. The perfect friendship formed. I helped him with his studies, and he kept me company. Since Caleb was the school’s main social butterfly and my twin, we were left alone to do our own thing. Mark was grateful. He listened and gave me advice on how to navigate the social niceties of the world when I struggled to see the point in them. He understood me and was a great people reader, which made us the perfect pair.
“Leah’s moved in,” I say as if that explains everything.
“I’m good, Gabriel.” Mark laughs, then pauses. “Who is Leah, and what do you mean she’s moved in?”
I huff, realising it’s been quite a while since we last spoke, but Mark waits patiently.
“Leah is my communications officer,” I say. “You met her when you came over.”
“Oh, the dark, haired, beaut... ow!”
I hear the smack at the other end of the phone. “No harm in appreciating beauty. You know you’re the only woman for me.”
I hear Jen in the background and smile. She’s the only one who can keep my friend in line, and he adores her and their son.
“Yes, that’s Leah,” I say, not wanting to add any more.
“Are you dating?”
“No,” I reply quickly.
“Then, my friend, I think you need to start at the beginning.”
I can imagine Mark making himself comfortable as he waits for me to begin.
“I’m confused,” Mark says when I finally bring him up to date. “What’s the problem?”
“I can’t stand people in my space. They drive me mad.”
Mark is aware of how hard I find sharing. He’s the only person I could share with. It’s why I never invited Rachel to move in.
“Okay, that’s nothing new. I’m struggling? What’s happened? Has she done something, and now you don’t know how to deal with it?”
I growl, making Mark laugh.
“No, Leah hasn’t done anything,” I say, letting out an exasperated huff.
“What is the problem, exactly?” Mark asks.
“What if I screw up? What if I get snarky because she’s in my space, and I mess up? She’s the best damn communications officer. Oh hell, how did I let this happen?”
I run my fingers through my hair before tugging it at the roots in frustration.
I can tell from his tone that he’s deliberating on the words about to come out of his mouth. “Let me get this straight, Leah hasn’t done anything to annoy you so far?”
“No, of course not, but then she hasn’t been living with me. She only moved in tonight.”
“Maybe not, but it certainly sounds like you’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
“We have, but then I come home, and I have my space.”
“How did it feel tonight when Leah was there?”
