Writer's Note
: I have already published a prologue for this story but it is not needed to enjoy this chapter, especially if you want to keep some surprises.
***
The sound of dishes clinking in the kitchen pulled me from a fitful sleep. I blinked against the morning light streaming through the half-drawn curtains, the familiar ache in my neck reminding me I'd spent another night on Marco Nunes' too-short couch.
After a quick shower, I dragged my weary body to the kitchen and found him there.
"Morning, man. Ready for your first day at work?" His bright grin was almost annoying, he was always so cheerful in the morning.
"Yeah, it'll be good to have something to keep me busy," I replied, gratefully taking the cup of coffee he offered. "And the money means I'll be out of your hair soon."
He opened his mouth, probably to say something encouraging, but before he could get a word out, a soft voice interrupted.
"Come on Tom." I turned to see Marco's younger sister Bela stroll into the kitchen. Her legs peeking out from beneath a t-shirt that barely reached mid-thigh. She had thick socks on, her dark wavy hair messy from sleep. "We love having you here."
She laid her hand on my forearm, flashing me a big smile, her touch lingering for a second too long.
I swallowed. I had a hard time dealing with Isabela's open flirtation. For most of my life I'd known her as Marco's annoying little sister, who would always try to intrude on our late night gaming sessions. But she was only three years younger than us, and had grown into a stunning woman.
At least she had the decency to look as miserable as me in the morning.
"Hi Bela." Marco and I spoke at the same time, which made us chuckle.
"I've got to get ready for work," Marco said, turning to leave the room. He paused in the doorway, like he'd just remembered something. "Oh, by the way, Tom. There's a party tonight. Some people from high school. You up for it?"
High school friends? Most of them I had not seen for eight years, but it made sense that those still in the city would get together. It took all of my will not to ask who exactly would be here.
"Sure, sounds fun."
Marco grinned and gave me a thumbs-up before heading down the hall toward the bathroom.
With him gone, I sipped my coffee, leaning on the counter. The window was open and I could hear the sound of the city I had grown up in waking up under us. Bela pouring herself some cereal put an end to that.
She looked me up and down.
"You clean up nicely." I was wearing black dress shoes, black slacks and a tight fitted white shirt tucked in my pants. It sure was a change from the sweatshirt and shorts I'd worn around the apartment, and I was rewarded with Bela's appreciative smile.
"Thanks," I said, looking down at her feet perched on the stool. "Cute socks." They were pink and fuzzy, and my comment made her break into a disarming giggle.
I checked my watch. "Gotta go. I'll see you at the party?"
"Yuck." Her face scrunched up. "Hanging out with a bunch of loser trust fund babies? Not thanks."
I chuckled, knowing exactly what she meant. Marco and I had gone to a selective private school on academic merit, surrounded by rich kids. Bela had a point there.
"Fair enough," I pushed myself off the counter. "See you later, then."
It felt strangely good riding the subway again. After five years in the U.S. I was back in the familiar clanking carriage of my home city's public transportation, full of familiar jingles, logos, and unfortunately, pungent scents.
Following graduation I'd tried to fund a startup with my then-girlfriend and our best friend from college. But two years later, here I was, back across the ocean, broke, humbled, ready for a fresh start.
The money situation weighed heavy on my mind. What little I had saved vanished quickly in hotels, leaving me with no choice but to crash on Marco's couch. When the first decent-paying job offer came through, a consulting gig at a mid-sized firm, I didn't hesitate
Our office was located just outside the city center, buried in a soulless business district. My first day at work was, to put it mildly, underwhelming. My team was out meeting with a client, leaving me to spend most of the day waiting. Waiting for my laptop, waiting for access to the company's internal systems, and bouncing between HR meetings that felt like they went nowhere. I felt more like an administrative box-ticker than anything else.
Relief washed over me as the end of the day finally came. After another crowded subway ride, I found Marco waiting for me near the exit. The walk to the party wasn't far, and as we headed there, he fired off questions about my new job, his excitement palpable.
I tried to muster some enthusiasm, but my first day had been a letdown, and I couldn't quite hide it.
"Sounds... kinda dull," Marco said with a sympathetic laugh. "First days usually suck though. It'll get better, man."
We stopped by a grocery store on the way, grabbing a six-pack of beer and a few bottles of wine so we wouldn't show up empty-handed. Before long, we arrived at the house. Given the kind of people I expected to see, I shouldn't have been surprised, but the place was one of those rare gems near the city center, a house with a garden.
Inside, strings of lights hung from the trees, casting a soft glow over the crowd, while mellow music played over the speakers. Groups of people clustered together, laughing and chatting, red solo cups in hand.
I could place a few faces from high school, but rather than a broad mix of former students, it was mostly the artsy crowd, with whom I'd never really clicked. They always seemed to move in their own world, full of creativity and inside jokes I never quite got.
Worse, I was the only one in a business outfit, sticking out like a sore thumb. It was like being back in high school, feeling out of place all over again. I unbuttoned the top of my shirt and rolled up my sleeves, hoping to blend in a little more.
Marco handed me a beer, raising an eyebrow as he watched me take a long, anxious sip. "You'll be fine, man," he said, chuckling.
I forced a smile, and was trying to come up with something to make it look like I was laid back and not affected when a voice cut my thoughts short.
"Hello, Tom."
I turned to find myself facing Nathalie Tran and a man I did not recognize. "Fancy seeing you here."
