Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Gia

I sit at my desk, eating a turkey sandwich during my lunch break. My laptop dings with a notification indicating I have an email. I click on the Google icon.

From: Elizabeth Tanner

To: Gia Gallagher

Subject: Hot-ass Roommate

I’m so fucking jealous you’re roomies with Gunner. How’s living with him? Is he as hot as he was in college? I’m sorry I couldn’t respond earlier to your messages, it’s hard for me to get a good connection here in Johannesburg. The photoshoot is wrapping up, and I’m coming to New York City next week.

From: Gia Gallagher

To: Elizabeth Tanner

Subject: Re: Hot-ass Roommate

He’s a clean freak. He fussed at me for leaving my clothes on the bathroom floor. He acts like the world is coming to an end if he doesn’t have his cup of joe in the morning, or he’s very cranky. And at night, I stay in my room listening to music or binge-watching The Office, and he sits at the breakfast nook burying himself in his work. I just try to stay out of his way. He’s never home on the weekends, which is okay with me. He’s ten times hotter than he was in college. And he isn’t as bad as I thought he was. I’m embarrassed about taking help from him since he’s my boss. And cool, you can spend the night with me—we can stay up all night talking like we used to when you lived here.

PA, Underwood Banking

From: Elizabeth Tanner

To: Gia Gallagher

Subject: Re: Re: Hot-ass Roommate

Uh-oh, it sounds like you’re still crushing on him like you were in college. And okey-dokey. We can go to the spa and find some stuff for us to do. I just got paid 40k for this photoshoot, so I’ll be able to splurge.

From: Gia Gallagher

To: Elizabeth Tanner

Subject Re: Re: Re: Hot-ass Roommate

No, it isn’t even like that. Those feelings are dead and gone. And okay. I’ll see you when you get here.

PA, Underwood Banking

From: Elizabeth Tanner

To: Gia Gallagher

Subject Re: Re: Re: Re: Hot-ass Roommate

It’s okay if you are, Gia. You can’t close yourself off to every guy you like. What kind of life is that? I know we agreed not to talk about he who must not be named and that night, and I get you’ve been to therapy, but I want you to be happy like you were before it all went down. Sometimes I miss the carefree Gia.

I don’t respond to her message. I close the email and start to sort out Gunner’s calendar for next week.