Page 39 of Eight Weeks
Sofia:Your enthusiasm is blowing me away, Nix. Careful, otherwise I might think you’re excited to spend Christmas with me.
Aaron:I’m not coming for you. In any way possible. When do we get back?
Sofia:I’m not sure. I’ll be back sometime after New Year’s, but you might be dead when that time comes around. That attitude of yours is screaming for a knife in your heart. You can try to leave early if you want.
Aaron:And miss out on the family drama? Fuck no. I’m already spending the holidays with you, might as well see how it all plays out the week after.
Aaron:By the way, Icicle, stabbing someone isn’t the smartest move to kill if you want to get away with it.
Aaron:Hey, do you mind if I call you? I’m cleaning my bathroom right now and texting isn’t exactly helping get the task done.
What the hell?
First, he ignores me, then acts like a total dick when I ask if he still wants to accompany me, and now he wants to call me. I didn’t even plan on continuing to text him.
Before I have my response typed out, my phone starts to ring. I would decline, but I’m curious to hear what else he has to say, so I pick up.
“How are you?” he asks right away. No hello, yet again no apology, no questions asked about our stay in Germany.
“I’m good, why are you asking?”
I hear the faint sound of a spray bottle in the background when Aaron replies with, “Around this time two months ago, you were too broke to afford tampons, so I was going to ask if you need me to buy you some again. Glad to hear you’re good.”
My spit goes down the wrong pipe, making me cough as I choke on my very own saliva. How the fuck does he remember that?
I didn’t think it was that memorable. He’s done a good deed, saved me from having to rob the store for two items. There is no need to remember my embarrassment.
“I wasn’t ‘too broke’, I didn’t have any money on me yet. And the store did not accept my EC card.”
Aaron chuckles. “Anyway, if you need anything, just let me know. My card does work here and I’m happy to help a friend in need.”
Would it be wrong to go over to his house and wrap my hands around his throat, squeezing just that tiny bit too hard? I don’t think so.
“So uh, Sofia… I have questions aboutmystay in Germany.” Didn’t expect anything less. “Do I need to book a hotel? It wouldn’t be a problem, but I need to know.”
“My mother would decapitate me if I let you stay in a hotel.” Besides, I don’t thinkBaierbrunneven hasa hotel, nor do the villages around.
“Huh. Yeah, makes sense. I, too, would like to decapitate you.”
Of course he would. I have the very same desire with his head. “Look, I don’t have much information about the flights yet, but I’ll let you know. I can ask my mom to ask my dad to pay for your flight since you’re kind of coming for me.”
The sound of a flushing toilet overtones his response, but he seems to notice when I don’t react to whatever he said. “Sorry,” he says, chuckling. “Uh, it’s alright, Sofia. I can afford the flight.”
“You sure? Flights from here to Germany and back are expensive.”
“Hope your dad books first class for you, because I won’t sit in economy, and it would be a shame if I couldn’t annoy you on our flight,” he says like he means it.
I roll over on my bed, lying on my side. I turn my phone on speaker and lay it down beside me. Guess I’ll be stuck with him on the phone for a while, so might as well get comfortable.
“I mean it, Nix. If you want me to pay, I’d totally get it.” It certainly would make more sense. He’s doing me a favor with being my fake-boyfriend. Paying for his flight is the least I could do.
“And I’m telling you I’ll be in first class. I haven’t been in economy for years, Sofia. Trust me, I can afford a flight. Tell your dad he doesn’t need to book yours; I’ll do it. Call it a treat from yourboyfriend. It’s going to be your birthday the week after anyway.”
He is out of his goddamn mind.
We keep arguing about the flights for anotherhour. I end up giving in, letting Aaron pay for my flight to Munich. I’m tired, so sue me for not wanting to keep on arguing. But there is one more thing we need to discuss.
“We need rules,” I say.
