Chapter 64: Untitled Chapter

Lunch was worse.

Roberto’s chair was empty again. The whole room felt wrong without him. Kendrix hated that she noticed. She hated that her eyes went there first.

Bash leaned back in his chair. “He skipped lunch too.”

“I heard you the first time.”

“Man lives for food. He skips two meals, something’s definitely wrong.”

Kendrix shrugged. “Maybe he’s busy.”

“Bullshit.” Bash’s voice dropped. “He’s avoiding you.”

Skyler’s fork hit the plate. “No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Skyler…”

Skyler finally looked up, tiredly. “Fine. He’s avoiding everyone. Happy?”

Bash grinned. Skyler looked like he wanted to throw his plate at him. Kendrix wanted to disappear as well.

Because they were both right. And she didn’t want to be the reason.

By afternoon she found him where she knew she would. The study.

The door was open. She walked past, then stopped anyway.

Roberto sat behind the desk, files stacked on the desk, laptop open, phone next to his hand. He didn’t look up. Not once.

Kendrix frowned. He always noticed her first. That was what felt off.

Then she saw why. He wasn’t reading. He had the same page under his hand for five minutes. Unmoved.

Her stomach tightened. She knew that look. That unfocused look. He was trying hard not to think about something.

She kept walking before he caught her. Or before she did something dumb.

Evening made her mad.

She walked into the living room with a book. Bash was on one couch. Skyler was on the other. The TV was low in the background. Roberto sat by the fireplace.

The second she stepped in, he turned and left. No word. No look. Just gone.

The door clicked shut down the hall.

Kendrix stared after him.

Bash lowered his drink. “Oh.”

Skyler rubbed his forehead. “No.”

“Oh, definitely.”

“No.” Skyler countered.

“Definitely.”

Kendrix looked at them. “What?”

Neither answered. Which was the answer.

. .

Later Roberto sat alone in the study. Again. The file in front of him hadn’t changed in fourty minutes. The numbers blurred in his eyes. He read the same paragraph twice and still had no clue what it said.

He wasn’t annoyed at the kiss. Or the car. Or even Kendrix.

He was annoyed that nothing stayed where he put it anymore. The kitchen. Library. Garden. Hallway outside her room. His brain went there without asking.

A knock came at the open door.

Bash. Of course. People only ignored Roberto’s tone when they wanted trouble.

Roberto didn’t look up. “What?”

Bash came in anyway. Bad sign. He dropped into the chair like he planned to stay.

“You look miserable.”

Roberto turned a page, but didn’t read it.

“You know what’s funny?” Bash asked.

“No.”

“You’re acting like someone going through a breakup.”

That got him to look up. Slow, dangerous.

Bash grinned. Fearless or stupid, hard to tell.

“There can’t be a breakup,” Roberto said flat. “There was never a relationship.”

Bash’s grin got worse. “That’s somehow worse.”

The quiet stretched. Bash stood, walked to the door, and paused. His voice dropped. No jokes this time.

“Distance only works if you actually want it.”

Then he left. The door clicked soft behind him.

Roberto stared at the empty doorway. Then, looked down at the file. The thought about Kendrix filled his head.

He closed his eyes, tired. He was done pretending.

“This isn’t working,” he muttered. Just to himself.

. .

Roberto skipped breakfast again. That was becoming a routine. Because now it wasn't an accident. It was becoming a pattern.

The kitchen was already occupied when Roberto finally entered close to noon.

Skyler sat at the island with a tablet.

Bash sat beside him eating cereal directly from the box.

Neither of them looked surprised to see him.

Roberto poured coffee, then turned to leave.

“Sit down.” Skyler still didn’t look up.

“No.”

“You’ve skipped two breakfasts.”

“So?”

“You don’t skip breakfast.”

Bash pointed his spoon at Skyler. “Told ya!"

“Nobody asked you.”

“Still right.”

Roberto pinched the bridge of his nose. Already tired. The conversation had existed for barely twenty seconds.

“Need something?”

Bash and Skyler shared a look. Not the joking one. Roberto immediately became suspicious.

Bash set the cereal down. “You look like shit.”

He arched his brow. “What?”

“You do.”

“I don’t.”

“You absolutely do.” Skyler nodded.“You’re distracted.”

Bash pointed. “There.”

Roberto drank his coffee in irritation.

“Are you done?”

“Nope.” Bash leaned on the counter. “When was the last time you slept for real?”

Roberto didn’t answer.

“Oh geez.” Bash sat up straight. “He hasn’t slept.”

Roberto scowled. “Get a hobby, both of you.”

“You know who sleeps like crap?” Bash ignored him. “Guys who can’t stop thinking about a girl.”

Skyler lowered the tablet. “No. Not again, Bash."

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Absolutely yes.”

Roberto slammed the mug down, too hard. The sound echoed through the kitchen.

“I’m leaving.”

“You always do that.” Skyler said flat.

Roberto turned. “What?”

“Every conversation ends with you walking out.”

The room went quiet. No jokes left.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit.” Skyler met his eyes. “You’re hoping we don’t see it.”

Bash wasn’t smiling this time.

“You’ve spent your whole life controlling everything.” Bash said. “Some things don’t work like that, Roberto. You can't control everything.”

Roberto chuckled, humorlessly. “That’s your advice?”

“Not advice. Just what it is.” Bash shrugged.

Skyler nodded. “He’s right.”

. .

Roberto tried working, but couldn’t. He opened a file and stared at the same page for a long moment. His eyes kept drifting to the hallway. To her laugh yesterday. To the car. To her face after.

He shut the file too loud. Then he stood, and paced the small area between the window and the desk. He couldn't sit still and he hated that.

A knock interrupted him.

The door opened before he answered.

Kendrix stepped inside. Roberto froze for half a second.

“You look busy.” She said.

His jaw flexed. “I’m working.”

She looked at the closed file, then at him. Her mouth twitched.

“Did you sleep at all?”

The same question Bash asked. But from her it hit worse.

Roberto looked at her. For one stupid second he almost said no, not since you. He took a deep breath.

“Enough.”

She didn’t believe him. He didn’t believe himself either.

Something in his chest felt tight. Too tight.

The whole 'avoid her' thing wasn't working. They both knew it.