There’s no more hiding. Our desires are out.
Lex is already on his computer when I enter the office, as always, but my eyes are quickly drawn to an unfamiliar shape in the corner of the room. There’s a desk set up there with a computer on it. My own computer is still next to Lex’s, so what is that for? I’m about to ask when someone arrives behind me.
“Hey, Andy,” Brian very enthusiastically says. He passes by me, his bag hanging on his shoulder, and sits at the newly added desk.
“Hi… Brian.” Confused, I look at Lex, not understanding why he would set up Brian in here. Is it out of necessity, or is it to cockblock us? I need to know. Lex has to explain this abrupt change, or else I’ll dwell on it endlessly. “Why is Brian here?” I ask once I’m at the desk.
“It’s Brian this morning, but the others will take turns working here, depending on the tasks we need to complete. It’s either that or we’ll never finish on time,” Lex explains, finally meeting my eyes.
I decide to believe his answer is honest. We’re far from being done, and it makes sense we have to do everything we can to finish by Wednesday. Our kiss doesn’t have to be the reason for it.
Having someone else with us only highlights how silent Lex and I usually are. It’s nice to work with the guys again, even though it’s one at a time. Brian helps on Monday morning. Then Mason is here in the afternoon. Having them nearby is undeniably helpful. On Tuesday, it’s Steven and then Joseph. The closer we are to D-day, the more intense the pressure gets.
With every passing hour, I grow more certain we won’t make it. The one thing actually ready for the demonstration is the double phone holder, which was 3D printed after a few prototypes were built. But as Kevin said, this gives the app a nice boost.
On Wednesday, I’m delighted to hear that Oliver will spend the afternoon with us. Even if I see him less and less as a romantic interest, he’s still a dear friend, and I miss goofing around with him.
Most of the afternoon is spent testing the app’s latest version and trying to correct some remaining errors. Oli and I are settled at the coffee table in Lex’s office with the proper configuration and our testing phones. We’re both signing without nail polish and trying to edit the code as we go. Although it’s terrible for our self-esteem work-wise, it quickly turns out to be a fun endeavor. We’ve been doing this for about thirty minutes, but the amusement isn’t fading.
The recognition tool struggles, so the sentence-formulating AI barely has anything to work its magic.
“The milk boy is in my garden?” I ask, confused.
“That’s what it says?” Oli turns the device to read it himself. “That’s hilarious. It was supposed to be that line fromMilkshakeby Kelis.”
I can’t help but giggle at the absurd translation. “Oli, you know your classics.”
It’s my turn to sign, and I follow his little game.
“Done,” I say. He reads it with attention, and a smile stretches his lips.
“That’s too easy. It’s Eminem,Lose Yourself.”
“What did it write exactly?” I ask, twisting it to see for myself. “There’s spaghetti vomit on Mom.” I chortle and return the phones to their proper positions. After a few more quotes from rap classics, we decide to do some actual work.
Oli’s with me the whole afternoon, and if we bother Lex with our antics, he doesn’t let it show. In no time, the end of the workday arrives. Oliver leaves at five-thirty while I stay, waiting for the last build to be over. We have officially accepted that the app isn’t the one we’ll show during the convention. Thanks to Lex’s foresight, Brian and Steven are ready to present their work. Although the failure hurts a little, I see it as a win. This past week was worth an entire month of work, at least.
“You should go home and get some rest for tomorrow,” Lex suggests after a while.
“The results might come in any time now. I’m good.”
“There’s no need for us both to stay late,” he insists. I’m too tired to argue with him, and I desperately need a shower and my bed.
Leaving my computer on, I gather my things, ready to go. He stands up at the same time I do, and I give him a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry this was all for nothing.”
“It wasn’t a complete waste of time,” he says. Something about the way he looks at me leads me to believe he means me,us, even though the thought is ludicrous. There is no “us”. There’s him, there’s me, and there’s a steamy night. It doesn’t make an “us”.
As if to prove me right, he adds, “The alpha version will certainly be ready by Thanksgiving now, and we’ll be able to seek out investors.”
It stings, but that’s on me for being so foolish. “And when we return, you’ll finally get back downstairs,” he bluntly continues.
The ache under my ribs intensifies, as well as an overwhelming sense of confusion. Why does it have to be this way with him? One step forward, two steps back? He kissed me, and now he’s rejecting me. He goes from hot to cold all the time, and I can’t keep up with his mood swings.
“Where did that come from?” I ask, trying to conceal my hurt feelings.
“It will be better that way.” The topic definitely shifted, and we aren’t talking about work anymore. “Whatever this is,” he says, his hand going back and forth between us, “this chemistry won’t lead to anything good. I don’t do relationships, Andrea. And you don’t seem like someone who does what I do.”
I don’t know exactly what he means, but I still feel insulted. Who am I? Laura fromLittle House on the Prairie? I’m not some naive girl who can’t make her own choices.
