“Never said you couldn’t. Now, what will it be? Chocolate croissant? Breakfast sandwich?”
“Jake, I?—”
My words die as he leaves me and my weak excuses behind.
Chapter 14
Jake
Eliana missing two meals really bothered me. Her stomach continuing to grumble, her empty fridge, and the way she looked more tired than usual this morning worried me just enough to storm out of her apartment and make a beeline to the Beanery. I don’t know much about being friends with girls, but I do know I’d never let one of my boys go hungry. I still wasn’t sure what she wanted, or if she had any dietary restrictions, which meant I ordered three breakfast sandwiches and hoped one of them would be edible.
While I’m waiting in line, I send a quick text to, Sienna, my younger sister, who’s an undergrad student at MIT.
Jake
Is it normal for girls to starve themselves?
The next thing I know she’s calling me. “Hello?”
“Sorry, currently getting ready and thought it’d be easier to talk on the phone. Why are you suddenly invested in the eating habits of women?”
“I have a new friend; she does psych research like you. Shejust told me that last time she ate a meal was lunch yesterday. Isn’t that crazy? Her stomach was grumbling the whole time we were together too.” Unsure why Eliana’s eating habits had become a problem I had to solve but here we were.
Sienna clicks her tongue, “Well if she is an academic there’s a super strong possibility she’s struggling a lot financially. Even really established academics tend not to make a ton of money. You have to remember mom inheriteda lotof money from grandma and grandpa.”
Shit. Yet another thing I wasn’t aware about when in comes to psych lifestyle.
“You’re right. I’m being a dick. Hopefully the breakfast sandwiches I’m about to bring her will make up for it.”
“It would certainly cheer up my day— wait. My brain is finally putting this together….since when do care about what your random hookups do?”
“First of all we have not hooked up. We’rejust friends.”
She snorts, “You just friends with a girl? As if.”
“Why is that so hard to believe?
“Jake. Be for real for a minute.”
“I am!” I exclaim.
She refuses to listen, “So who’s the girl that’s finally gotten my brother to settle down.”
This was definitely my worst nightmare. The last time my sisters and mom thought I was seeing someone, they had uncovered her Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn in a matter of minutes. Not that what was going on between Eliana and I was even remotely romantic. Unfortunately, the only thing worse than Sienna thinking I was seeing someone was her finding out how much I was struggling.
“Again we are just friends.”
“Friends who hang out at 6 a.m.?”
“I ran into her on my way to practice.” I lie. Easier thancoming up for an excuse as to why I was in Eliana’s apartment before the sun was fully out.
“No you didn’t. You have practices Mondays and Wednesdays. Thursdays are your rot-in-bed day in preparation for weekend games. You sent your schedule to me so I can keep track of when you’re busy, remember?”
Dammit. For once I wished she wasn’t so damn supportive.
“So tell me all about her, don’t leave out any juicy details. Well, actually maybe notallthe juicy details. There are some things I should never know as your sister.”
I snag the food from the counter and start walking back to the apartment. “I’m hanging up now.”
