The Laws of Attraction

3

“You were right about the coffee, it's’ really good, do they really put pumpkins in there?” 

“Say what?” I stared at him, wondering if he was actually pulling my leg but I think he was still waiting for an actual answer. “No Jacob, no they don’t.” 

“Oh.”

And he’s. a. Professor…of the Neurosurgery department…in Olympus…

The little, stray droplets of rain lingered on the body of his car, small puddles of water on the ground rippled with the light drizzles that still fell from the gloomy sky above. Jacob made sure I got into his car still warm and dry.

“Do you think the meat’s fine? I literally lost track of time and I forgot we bought meat and frozen items.”

“All good Rosie, not when I have an ice box back there.”

“Why would you have one back there?”

“Sometimes I carry fresh brain organs at the back of my trunk.”

I gagged, covering my mouth involuntarily as the vivid image of fresh, squishy brains sat in the icebox in the trunk of this very car, swishing from side to side—say I wonder what happens if the car ran over a massive bump? “I was just pulling your leg, you seem to believe everything I say.” Jacob chuckled as he sped out of the parking lot. “Please don’t do that again or I might actually throw up on your expensive carpets.”

“I’m sorry.” He was still chuckling as he drove past the green traffic lights and took a turn to the right. I looked at the screen of the car display and noticed it had no navigation keyed into the gps. “Have you got all these roads memorized already?”

“I’m a brain surgeon, I’m supposed to memorize things as long as I can, if not, forever even. I’m assuming you’ve got at least twenty law books all memorized up here too?” he pointed to his own temple.

“Pretty much.” I shrugged, “but for now, it’s all ballet dance moves and what meals a toddler should and should not take.”

“There’s always a first time for everything. Once, I remember grabbing a frozen brain and throwing up right after and on my colleague during my first year as resident. It was horrible.” He shuddered quietly, recalling that mere thought. 

“I would have thrown up too.” I laughed, watching his reaction. “Say, did you have to stay the night with a dead body in the morgue or something during your residency?” I asked out of curiosity. “Whatever for, Rosie?” Jacob asked, briefly looking at me then back to the roads.

“Isn’t that some sort of way to build up your courage or something? Like you know, so you won’t go running out of the operation theatre screaming your head off when you open up a person’s head?”

“No we don’t!” he made a face. “Who even told you that?” he was laughing heartily, shaking his head as he heard me ramble on.

“It’s a myth then?”

“I’m guessing you heard some old wife’s tale, there’s really no such thing.”

“I’m not sure who I hear that from. But say if there’s a need for that someday, do you think you’re brave enough to do it?”

We arrived at the parking lot not more than 10 minutes later. Having Jacob help with the groceries made me realize that this was the first time I didn’t need to go two rounds up and down the elevators just for them. He held the ice box in one hand and some bags in the other as he pressed the button for the trunk to shut itself.

I balanced two paper bags in one hand as I punched my pinkie finger into the buttons of the elevator at the main foyer. “Good afternoon Miss Sterling,” a friendly, soothing voice croaked. “Ah this is the man who I assume is your new roommate, Mr. Dankoff.”

Nate, as I got to know was in his late sixties who worked as a security personnel in this building; he told me about his wife and two kids who were now working adults—the elderly man has a sweet tooth and loves cream puffs so I’d get him some every now and then.

“Afternoon Nate, Jacob, this is Mr. Nathaniel but we all call him Nate, he’s the head security for this building.”

“I know, he threatened to whoop my ass if I tried to rob your house last night.” Jacob said casually, taking a tentative step back from Nate to stand beside me.

“Security protocol Miss Sterling.” Nate chuckled as he patted Jacob on his back with his firm and slightly wrinkled hands. “How’s the wife Nate?” I asked fondly.

“She’s all good, Jane thanks you for the lovely pair of flats you gave her. In return, she baked you some of your favourite raisin muffins, let me get them for you.”

Kicking off our shoes and closing the door behind us, we placed our groceries on the counter to sort them out. The first thing Jacob did was placing all the meat in the freezer along with the other frozen items we bought. It was a long time habit of mine to sort out my groceries right after I get home since I love myself a clean kitchen counter.

A notification sound on Jacob’s phone went off while he was putting away the frozen items. I, too, did check my phone after. 5 missed calls from the best friend and a few dozen messages from her saying she cut her trip short because she had BIG NEWS—typed out all in caps, a few notifications from candy crush saying I got free gifts awaiting me and also, the credit card company notifying me that I needed to make a payment due on the 28th of August.

I dialled Paige’s number and after two dial tones, she picked up and practically screamed into the phone, which I swear had startled me and I dropped the carton of eggs I was holding but Jacob was quick. He bent his back and with one large palm, he caught it— one hand under the egg carton and the other hand holding my waist for support. “Jesus Rosie, careful with the eggs. We literally just got them.” He chuckled when he looked up at me, still stunned to even answer my friend on the other line. 

“Who is that?” Paige asked, her voice laced with amusement. “He just said your name is the sweetest way possible.”

I was too stunned to answer as well as I stared at him wide eyed, taking note of where he had sat, he cleared his throat and straightened his back. The warmth from his palm on my waist lingered even when he turned around to place the eggs down on the counter. “Rosie Sterling, is there a man in your house?” Paige asked. Jacob pointed to my phone in hand, “Rosie, you’re in the middle of a call.” Jacob reminded me and I shook my head.

“Rosie! I swear to god if you don’t—” she called again.

“Hello, Paige, sorry, and god how many times do I have to tell you to stop screaming into the phone like that? Are you crazy?” I chided, I heard Jacob chuckle as he busied himself in sorting out the rest of the groceries.

“For starters, you totally deserved that for not picking up my calls. What were you so busy with?” she asked curiously. “Long story, but I got a new roommate.” I whispered as I made my way to my bedroom. “A new roommate? Is it a he or a she?” I can almost imagine her smirking over the other end of the call. “It’s a he..” I began. “Single or taken?” she pressed further.

“Paige, I haven’t gotten around in prying into his personal life yet and I don’t intend to.” I say, although I very well know that he is single, and letting Paige on that sort of information will encourage her to start planning my wedding immediately—I was not kidding. 

“Anyways, why did you call? Is there something wrong?” I asked, trying to change to topic but worried a little with her endless strings of calls and texts. “Why are you cutting your trip short?” I questioned.

“I got engaged!” she squealed, and I think she’s jumping up and down because when she finally stopped squealing, she took in a sharp breath as she composed herself. “Andrew proposed? Oh my god Paige Williams! I’m so happy for you!” I, too, think I was jumping along with her as well because she was squealing all over again.

“I’m so excited, oh my god. I mean, I knew we were going to get married at some point but when he proposed, he totally caught me off guard you know? Like, this is still so whack! I cannot believe I’m engaged!” I bet anyone ten dollars she was definitely admiring her engagement ring on her finger right this very moment as we spoke.

“I’m so happy for you, I really am.” My lips curved and eyes began to water. “Oh Rosie, I wished you were here to witness everything. But don’t you worry, I’ll be back in a couple more days and we’ll have a girl’s night out or something.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.” I said earnestly, looking out of my bedroom window, admiring the concrete jungle that stretched over and beyond, dark grey clouds were still looming over this large city, a flash of vivid lightning with muffled rhythmic thunder rumbled in a distance. “You’ll find someone Rosie, I know you will.” She said quietly after I went silent for a bit.

“Paige, I wasn’t…” I trailed, staring at the mullioned windows which were then splattered with raindrops within seconds. “I know, but I just want you to be happy too, you know. Andrew and I will delay our wedding for as long as possible until you...”

“Paige!” I said sternly. “Don’t be absurd, I’m genuinely happy for you and I can’t wait to share this moment with you as well. Now don’t you worry about me, I know I’ll find someone, when he comes, he comes all right. I’m not going out there looking, at least not for now…not when I still have things to sort out.”

“That’s what you always say Rosie.” She said heavily.

“Anyways, I’ve got to go, I forgot about my laundry, I’ll text you soon all right?” I promised. “All right Rosie, I’ll see you real soon. Love you.”

“Love you too Paige.”

And I hung up.

I sighed, dropping the phone to my side as I watched the raindrops slither its way from the glass to the edge of the glass window . I didn’t want to get emotional right now, especially not when there’s someone else in the house. Maybe it wasn’t so bad now that I have company—gives me some sort of excuse to not drown in my thoughts again.

I made my way to the laundry room, taking out the sheets from the dryer and throwing them in a rattan basket that I brought along with me along with Jacob’s now clean shirt. I tied my hair into a loose low bun as I made my way to the lounge room with the basket in hand, switching on the TV that was mounted on the wall.

“I made you a little something, you seemed upset on the way down.” He placed a cup of steaming hot cocoa in front of me on a gold coaster on the table. For some reason, I didn’t correct him about my emotions, but to prevent myself from spilling more than necessary and him asking if I wanted to talk about it, I inhaled a sharp breath and forced myself to smile a little.

“You need help with that?” he asked, pointing at the dry bed sheets and pillowcases that were in a huge pile in the basket.

“It's’ alright, I can handle it.” I answered as I reached for the remote on the couch. “Do you have any shows you want to watch?” I asked.

“Anything other than Grey’s Anatomy.” He said firmly, taking a seat on the couch next to me. “Do you actually have the time to watch anything?” I asked curiously.

“What? Do you still think I work round the clock?” he answered my question with another.

“I honestly have no idea.” I said as I picked a TV series on Netflix. “I have days off here and there, mostly on the weekends now that I’m Professor.” He answered, stretching his arms and resting them on the head rest of the sofa.

“Let’s start with this, shall we? It’s one of my favourite series.” I don’t think I was really asking in all honesty.  

 “Lucifer? That’s your favourite show?” he raised a brow. Gosh, I hope his guy wasn’t catholic or something, I’m not sure he’d like it very much when a human impersonated the devil on TV.

“Trust me, the day I laid my eyes on Tom Ellis, I ended up finishing one whole season in a day.”

“A whole season in one day?” he asked incredulously as his brain was trying to figure out if he was living with a crazy, obsessive woman who watched a TV show because of a man’s body.

“When you’re pretty much jobless, you have time as your luxury.” I said nonchalantly. 

We watched the series in silence. I hadn’t realized he slipped away to make us some popcorn since I was so engrossed with Tom Ellis’s snarky comments while folding a king sized bed sheet. I lost track of time, I think I must have dozed off because a buzzing phone jerked me awake from my slumber.

I opened an eye and fumbled around the soft cushion seats and when I caught hold of the device—thinking it was mine, I answered, noticing the throw blanket over my shoulders. I slid my thumb across the screen and pressed the device to my ear. “Hello?” I mumbled sleepily.

“Jacob?” the person asked. “Huh?” I continued, frowning as I yawned soundlessly.

“What’s wrong with your voice?” the person sounded amused with my voice for some reason.

“No, this is Rosie speaking, who’s this?” I pushed myself up with an elbow, still confused with my eyes closed. The rain outside was finally taking effect on my mood in a negative way. The person chuckled and I heard a woman speaking indistinctly on the other end of the line but I did catch a few words like, “Babe… I don’t…that’s Jacob, that’s a woman’s voice.”

“Who the…” I said to myself and my eyes shot open on instinct, I pulled the phone away from my ear and glanced at the screen, blinking hard as I tried to remember if I had known someone called ‘Daniel’

Oh my god. This isn’t my phone.

“Hello Rosie, is Jacob there?” Daniel spoke again into the phone, fighting the urge to laugh or something and I can tell he’s having a hard time doing so. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I thought this was my phone and I...”

“Sweetheart, I believe that’s mine.” Jacob extended his hand towards his phone and he was all dressed up in t-shirt and jeans with a leather jacket over his shoulders.

“I’m so sorry.” I placed the phone in his hand quickly, trying to ignore the fact that my face was burning with embarrassment. I gathered all the folded laundry and almost tripped over the rattan basket on the floor and I cursed in my head. “Yes, 7:30, I heard you loud and clear, and no, I don’t have a g—, stop assuming.”  I heard Jacob say into the phone as I headed for the stairs.

I hit myself in the head and winced, oh my god I can’t believe I picked up someone’s phone by accident and even had a conversation with him, It was an honest mistake right? I mean, it wasn’t like I did that on purpose, right?

A knock came on my door and I bounced off the bed, exhaling a sharp breath first before twisting the knob. “Yeah?” I poked my head through the slit of the door.

“Rosie, I’m about to meet up with my friends, I’ll see you later?”

“Okay sure, have fun.” I smiled, trying my best to hold in my utter, embarrassing self.

“Okay then.”

“Okay then.”

I heard the front door shut itself after a couple of minutes and I decided I would hit the showers and then make myself something to eat and maybe some wine later. Peeling off my day clothes, I turned on the tap and let the shower run for a bit, warm itself p. Putting Beyoncé’s album on shuffle on my Spotify, I jumped into the shower lathering myself with soap.

Single ladies was the first song to come on, oh the irony. “If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it.” I belted out and repeated the same line as I swayed my hips, rinsing the soap off my body.

“Rosie.” I heard someone calling out and a hand flew to my mouth although the music was now a different track. I thought it was just my mind playing games until I heard my name being called again. “Jacob?” I called out just to make sure it was him.

“Rosie, sorry to bust in on your concert session but I need to ask you something.” 

I winced and smacked my face in embarrassment. Oh god, really?

I grabbed my robe from the hook off the wall and wrapped myself with it; stepping out of the shower, I hit the pause button of the music on my phone. I opened the door and steam immediately rushed out of the slit, a gush of cold air hit my face.

“Would you like to come to dinner with me?” he asked, rubbing the back of neck looking slightly sheepish.

“What?” I remarked.

“I mean, would you like to come to dinner with me and my friends? I feel bad leaving you here all alone.” he cleared his throat, his elbow perched on the door frame. “Now?” I asked stupidly. No Rosie, he wants to have dinner with you in the next life. Of course it's’ now.

“Yes now.” He repeated.

“Okay, but I mean, I’m not dressed or anything yet.”

“I can see that.” He said, his eyes darting to my robe. “I’ll wait downstairs.”

“Okay.” I nodded slowly as I pointed to the door. “Huh?” he asked, clueless. “I need to get out.” I said.

“Oh what, yes, sorry.” He stuttered, moving aside for me to pass. I bit my lip as I slipped past him and into my room. I barely caught my breath when I reached my room and I realized I had been holding it in. Well for starters, I’ve not been asked out for a long time by a man (other than my old high school friends who called to hang out or Cain). And frankly I didn’t know what to expect and I knew I had to face Daniel— Jacob’s friend who I had briefly spoken to over the phone by accident.

I applied some moisturizer and some concealer, filled in my brows and applied some eyeshadow and mascara. My fingers were working faster than usual and I fumbled around with my blush and looked at myself in the mirror. Jesus, what is wrong with my pulse? I was already feeling so nervous with just a dash of excitement. Then I remembered that Jacob was still waiting for me outside.

Where was I? Ah yes ,lipstick.

I removed the hair tie out of my hair and brushed through it simply, not wanting to frizz up the soft curls it gave. I put on some earrings and sprayed myself with some Chanel. I opted for jeans and a shirt since I wasn’t going out to impress anyone, but I didn’t want to dress like a hobo either, right? So I picked out a silk spaghetti strapped piece and paired it with a jacket over. Heels, I made a mental note to pick out my strappy black heels.

I grabbed my sling bag from earlier today and threw my phone and purse in, taking one last look in the massive mirror I had in my room, once satisfied, I headed out of the room. I noticed Jacob was reading in front of the book shelf I had, he was so focused on it he didn’t even realize I was already at the bottom of the stairs.

“I’m ready.” I announced quietly. He looked up from his book, his eyes widened and a smile appeared on his lips as he took in my features. “You look nice.” He said earnestly.

“Thank you.” I turned away quickly, trying to hide the little smile that was slowly forming on my lips. “What were you reading?” I asked as he shut the book and I heard him stuff it back with the rest of the books on the shelf “Criminal law 101, the content in it was really intense.” He recalled as he grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter while I rummaged through my shoe cabinet. “It's basically all Law information, if I were to read any books that had to do with surgery, it’d be just as intense to me.”

“We’d have pictures in ours.” He offered, putting on his shoes trainers. “Are you sure you’re not reading a kid’s book instead?” I asked wryly and he snorted.

We headed downstairs and back into the parking lot for a second time that day but this time, it wasn’t for grocery shopping.