Page 49 of Until You Came Along

I burst out laughing again and Paul looked at me strangely, but he laughed too. After breakfast, Paul left right away. I started cleaning the apartment before going to the gym for a while. When I was making my bed, I heard a message come in. I picked up the phone and saw it was a message from Baco:

“Hermes is like a caged lion. Soon he'll be walking on the walls from the fury he's feeling”

My response:

“Because someone took him down a peg”

Next message from Baco:

“It's jealousy, beautiful! It's killing him! But I see you've already found a replacement...”

My response:

“Paul is just a friend, I assure you. For now I don't want anything to do with romantic relationships, a few days with your brother were enough!”

Next message from Baco:

“We'll talk later, but I assure you I've never seen him like this. I think if I hadn't grabbed him, he would have broken down your door or jumped from the balcony. I like that he's feeling jealous, I hope it helps him come to his senses. It's just as I said...”

My response:

“You're such a dreamer, that's why you're an artist. Kisssss”

Message from Baco:

“Whatever you say... I'll stop by later because I have an invitation for you”

My response:

“If it's decent I might consider it”

Last message from Baco:

“ »

I smiled at those little angel faces because my friend could be many things, but an angel wasn’t one of them. I continued cleaning the apartment and a little while later I went to the gym. When I returned, I was feeling in better spirits and less anxious. I prepared something for lunch and just as I was sitting down at the counter to start eating, my phone rang with a video call.

“Hello, artist.”

“Beautiful, I know I said I’d stop by, but I won’t be able to because I’m shopping for tonight and I don’t have time,” he said, as I watched him walk through a supermarket.

“What’s happening tonight? Are you cooking?”

“Does it look like it? Look where I am,” he stated, showing me the alcoholic beverages display.

“I thought as much.”

“Today is my birthday,” he informed me.

“Happy birthday, Baco! Why didn’t you mention it before?”

“Thanks. I didn’t tell you because so many things have happened lately that I forgot. That’s why I’m calling you now. I’m having a gathering at my apartment and obviously I expect you to be there, and before you ask, I’ll let you know that Hermes won’t be there.”

“Are you sure? Because I wouldn’t want to run into him.”

“I’m sure. He had to travel for business, that’s why he came by this morning to wish me happy birthday. You know that’s true because that’s when he ran into your friend,” he informed me.

“That makes me feel better.”