Page 1 of Drunk In Love
CHAPTER 1
Kamaya
The sweltering late June day in New York was unbearable, and I couldn’t wait to return to the office. Maxwell and I always took our lunches at the same time so we could eat together. It wasn’t something we’d ever discussed, but in the two years I’d been employed with Tri-State Security, we’d become fast friends and spent a lot of time together. That is, of course, when he wasn’t getting on my nerves like he did in the beginning of my employment.
It’s funny to think how when I first started working for the security firm, Maxwell’s I know more than you attitude rubbed me the wrong way. He inaccurately assumed because I was the newest on the team that I didn’t know my shit. Thankfully we got over that and discovered how well we get along.
Now, Maxwell is one of my best friends, but I still need time with my female friends when Maxwell’s cynical guy attitude drives me crazy. Speaking of other friends, I check an incoming text from Nicole, my friend since our college days.
Sorry, Kammy! I have to cancel drinks with you Daniella and Mona. Bryson got us tickets to see Aerie and you know how badly I’ve wanted to see Aerie live! Please don’t be mad at me.
I release a breath in disappointment. Nicole has been doing this for a while now. Cancelling last minute, sometimes as close as minutes before any plans we’d made in advance. I do know how much she loves the band Aerie, but it would be a lie to say that it didn’t hurt that Nicole is bailing on getting drinks with my sisters and me so she can hang with her boyfriend.
“Uh-oh, why the sigh?” Maxwell nudges my side. He’s trying to get me to cheer up by making a goofy face, but I was really looking forward to tonight’s hang out.
We’re walking side by side on the bustling midtown street amid afternoon foot traffic. Walking in tandem with our to-go bags from Essen: Caesar wrap for me and stir-fry for the always hungry Maxwell. Essen is our go-to eatery for lunches we spend together. One thing about Maxwell is he’s reliable, unlike some others in my life.
“Nicole had to cancel last minute for tonight because Bryson got her tickets to see Aerie,” I say, extoling the woes of having a best friend in a new and thankfully happy relationship.
“That sucks,” Maxwell says, opening the doors to the large building we work in. The towering slate-gray building houses many offices for various businesses, and at this time of day, there’s a flurry of activity as office dwellers go to and fro. The building has a prime location in the heart of Manhattan and is an accessible commute from where Max and I both live in Jersey City.
“Yeah, Nicole and I haven’t hung out in a while, ever since she started dating Bryson,” I say, standing at the elevator bank with Max.
“Oh, I know all about those friends. They disappear as soon as they get into a relationship,” he says as we wait for the next available elevator doors to open.
“I guess I don’t ever have to worry about you bailing on me,” I say.
Max meets my gaze again, his dark-brown eyes not conveying too much vulnerability. That wasn’t Max. He definitely kept his cards tucked close to his chest. “No, I have no interest in relationships. All doomed,” he responds.
I shake my head at Max’s expression. “Even you can’t be this cynical about all relationships.”
Maxwell turns to me like I’ve suddenly grown two heads. I knew his staunch anti-relationships stance, but I always figured it was temporary. Now he seemed to be against relationships forever. Someday he’d make an excellent husband or partner to a woman who could hopefully make him see that not all relationships are doomed forever and ever and for all of eternity.
I’m not certain any woman in the world is that persuasive, but I hope one day he finds her.
“Kam, look at the state of dating for our generation,” Max continues. “Literally everyone is either a user or a narcissist.”
My eyes widen at his pessimistic declaration. “Not everyone. You and I aren’t like that!”
Maxwell only shrugs, and the material of his gray suit jacket strains on his muscular shoulders. “Yeah, well it’s not like we’ll ever date each other. It’s hard meeting people organically these days, and need I remind you what a shit show dating apps are?”
I couldn’t help the recoil that went through me. I knew that dating apps were responsible for many happy couples, but my short-lived time on them was a disaster. A bad social experiment that I was in no rush to repeat. “Please, no reminders of my horrific time using a dating app. Should rename the app Unhinged.”
Maxwell laughs at me. “Remember that guy in Brooklyn you almost went out with about two months ago? Wasn’t he the one who sent you the address to a warehouse?”
I groan. I was never going to live down that zany tale. “Thank God I googled the address before agreeing to the date! Not to mention the article that popped up about several raves being shut down due to multiple noise complaints,” I say and shudder. “But he’s only one very bad example. Not everyone is crazy.”
Maxwell’s brow rises skeptically, but he tended to see things in a pragmatic way.
The first elevator on the left of the bank is available.
“Finally,” Max says, pressing the button to our floor once we’re inside. He turns to his side towards me. “I rest my case. Relationships are doomed.”
I swat his arm. “I refuse to give into your glass-half-empty attitude. My sisters have found love and so can I… I hope.”
Maxwell shakes his head at me. “We have completely different outlooks on relationships and that’s okay. Clearly, we’re not going to agree,” he says, turning away to depress the Door Close button when a voice rings out.
“Hold the doors!”