Chapter 3

3: 3

The line worked exactly as I'd hoped. It fired up Dora's fighting spirit.

She posted a smug little emoji.

"That's nothing. I just can't be bothered to go, that's all. Give it a few days and I'll show you all."

The group lit up.

"Ooh, yes, going to his place is the real thrill. Like that whole 'her nightgown' fantasy."

"Getting cozy right next to their couple photo. Just picturing it gets me going."

"Dora, hurry up and give us what we want!"

That night, for the first time ever, Max came home early.

I was watching TV. He came over and started rubbing my shoulders.

"Rosie, work's about to get really busy for me. I figured you'd be bored here on your own. Why don't you go stay at your parents' place for a few days?"

I forced out a caring little smile.

"If you're pulling overtime, that's all the more reason for me to stay. I have to look after you."

"No, it's just, I'm worried your parents miss you..."

"My parents are away traveling. Nobody's home."

That shut him down cold. His face went sour.

Over the next few days, I led the charge in the fan group, nagging Dora every single day.

Her followers got more and more worked up too.

"Dora, when's it actually happening?"

Dora explained, "I just haven't found the right chance to sleep over yet. Be patient."

I took a sip of my iced latte, tapped the keyboard lightly, and typed out a line.

"You need a chance? All I have to do is say I want to stay the night at my boyfriend's, and he'll pick some random fight with his girlfriend and kick her out the door."

"And you say this guy dotes on you? That's doting? Sounds to me like he still cares more about your best friend."

This time, even some of Dora's fans started to have doubts.

"Maybe this guy doesn't love you that much after all. Dora, you sure you're not getting played?"

Dora had lost all face. She didn't say another word.

That night Max came home stone-faced, and the second he was through the door he blew up at me over nothing.

"I tell you to go stay at your parents' for a couple days, and you just flat-out refuse, huh?"

"I work myself half to death, and all I want when I get home is to rest by myself for a bit."

"Even if we're a couple, you could at least give me a little personal space, right?"

I looked at him, half amused.

"Max, this is my apartment."

"If you want personal space, why don't you go rent a place?"

His head dropped instantly, and his eyes slid away, guilty.

A place in a good part of the city ran over four thousand a month in rent.

Before I agreed to move in together, he'd been holed up in some run-down little dump out in the suburbs to save money.

Max turned and ducked into the bathroom, whispering into his phone.

I pretended not to notice and played a round of mobile game on my phone.

After a while he came out, wearing an ingratiating smile.

"Baby, Thursday's my birthday. Didn't you ask me before what present I wanted?"

"You've decided?"

Max nodded quickly. "I just want two days to myself. Is that okay?"

I mashed the enemy crystal on my screen like a madwoman.

The word Victory floated up.

I set the phone down and tilted my head toward him.

"Max, I think there's something off about you."

Max flew off the handle again.

"Can you not be so paranoid every single day? Work is killing me, where would I find the energy for anything else?"

I put on my most innocent face. "I just meant, you seem really stressed out at work lately."

"Where's your mind gone?"