The Laws of Attraction

5

“You alright there?” Jacob asked. I felt the car come to a halt and the engine died down. I nodded and leaned my head against the headrest. My head was heavy and I was definitely clocked out for the night. “We’re home.” He said, unbuckling his seat belt. I hummed in reply as my hands reached for the car door handle blindly. “Wait here..” I heard Jacob say and the sound of a car door opened and closed. “Where did he go?” I mumbled to myself as I leaned towards the dashboard, my back slouching as I hiccupped. When was the last time I was this hammered? Two nights ago? Three?

“Rosie, here.” I heard him say, humid air hit my face as I looked up at him, my head felt so heavy it just tilted backward. Jacob held in his laugh as he offered a hand to me. No no no, I can’t be like this in front of the man I just met. God, what is wrong with me? I was better than that. Pull yourself together Rosie!

“I’m fine, I can walk.” I waved his hand away, pouting and he stepped back a little, allowing me to get out. I took one two steps forward real quick and I stopped, my arms in the air which made me seem like I was flying. “Ohh, there’s a curb right here.”  I said loudly, pointing to it. 

“You sure you’re not drunk?” Jacob asked, closing the car door behind him. I whipped my head and body around so fast in an attempt to shoot back a snarky remark but I felt my heel hit the curb and I lost my balance. How he had caught me in time, was beyond me. “That’s it, get on my back.” He said. I shook my head stubbornly. “I barely even know you, and I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

“Rosie, you won’t even make it back to the loft in this state, if I leave you be, you might be going up and down the elevators without even stopping.”

I thought for a bit, squinting at him. I was aware that he still had his arm supporting my lower back and my hand pulling on the fabric of his jacket. “O..okay.” I nodded slowly, “Ow my neck hurts.” I whined.

“Come on.” He said and did a half squat, low enough for me to climb on. As soon as I did, he put two hands under my thighs and hoisted me further up his back. “Tell me why, ain’t nothing but a heartache..” I drawled as I rested my chin on his shoulder. “Rosie, we’re in..” Jacob began but I didn’t let him finish.

“Tell me why,” I continued my drunken slurring and tapped on Jacob’s chest. “Your turn.” I whispered as if I was afraid someone else might hear us. He sighed in defeat. “Ain’t nothing but a mistake.” He sang and I covered my mouth, laughing. “Heehee.” 

“Tell me why..” I went a pitch lower and nudged him again with my arms. “I never want to hear you say..” He finished, shaking his head after. “I want it that way.” We finished together. “Encore.” I announced, jolting him in surprise and he chuckled, “No more encore.” He said.

 “Finally, I’m not singing the second part of the song alone.” I muttered as we got into the elevators. “Hm, what do you mean?” he asked as the metal doors closed.

“I always wished I had a duet partner, but I was mostly always on my own so..” I shifted my chin and laid my cheek on his shoulder. “And what makes you think I’ll be doing a duet with you?” he asked.

“Well, you just did.” 

“That will be my first and last, I can’t sing.”

“But you sounded like nightingale.”

“Don’t exaggerate now.”

Jacob unlocked the door and closed it behind him after. He piggy backed me all the way into my room in silence. I think I was already fast asleep in a matter of seconds because I hadn’t realized when he tucked me in and left my room.

I woke up on a Sunday morning with a pounding headache and a familiar sensation in my stomach. It growled when the smell of coffee beans and something greasy wafted into my room. If I was still staying alone, I would have (no doubt), waltzed out of my room and into the kitchen half dressed. But now that I was living with someone…

I was in and out of the bathroom within 10 minutes, making sure I did not smell of beer and stupidity. Oh god, I couldn’t even remember if I did anything remotely weird or dumb to my new roommate. “Hi.” I said as I popped myself into the kitchen. “Hello, how are the rest of your band members?” he asked, turning his head around for a quick second. “What band members?” I asked.

“You made me sing I want it that way with you last night, remember?”

A hand flew to my mouth, I gasped. “I did?” I felt my face burning up with embarrassment. “I mean, I had a feeling I did something silly but I didn’t expect..”

“It’s as if you were having a live concert of your own.” He said. “Enough of that, oh god. I cannot believe myself.” 

“Don’t worry, I think we’ve all been there once. Anyway, I’ve made toast with butter spread and some bacon.”

“I’ll get the coffee.” I say as I got out two white mugs from the glass cabinet and rinsed them, and filled them up with hot coffee from the French press. “This was the coffee grounds you bought yesterday?” I asked, looking at the packet of sealed coffee grounds. “Notes of milk chocolate, caramel and toasted hazelnut. I read the label. 

“I’ve been drinking this brand for some time, frankly, the taste is really good.”

“With milk or without?” I asked, walking towards the refrigerator. “With please.”

“You don’t like it dark?” I searched for the milk carton at the sides of the fridge and reached for it. “It depends on my mood. But after all that beer last night, I think I need something not so bitter.” 

“Fair enough.” I popped open the cap of the carton and poured a quarter of milk in the cup, watching the liquid mixing together from a dark shade to light brown. “Sugar?

“A teaspoon should be fine.” He answered as he laid our food neatly on separate plates and placed them on the kitchen island. “Can we watch something while eating?” I pointed towards the TV. “Hey, it’s you loft, your call.”

And so we did, finishing up the last few episodes of Lucifer. I did the dishes and put them away while Jacob got a call on his phone. The dress shirt that Jacob wore two nights ago was now dried up and hung on a hanger, waiting to be ironed. I got out the ironing board and filled it up with some water for steam as I stood in front of the TV.

Jacob came back downstairs with his laptop under one arm and his phone in another. “Don’t trouble yourself with that, I’ll iron it right after.” He says, pointing to his shirt. “That’s alright, I have some clothes I’ve been putting off as well. You working?” I asked.

“Just needed to prepare something for my interview tomorrow.”

“What interview?” I asked.

“It’s about this new method of brain transplant I’ve been researching on for years, finally getting my thesis published and the hospital got an exclusive interview for me on CNN.”

“Wow, that’s impressive. I can’t remember the last time I actually wrote something about law and such.” I turned down the volume of the TV so Jacob could concentrate. He put on his spectacles and it made him look 10 times wiser, did I mention he was really good looking for a doctor? Yikes I’m about to burn a hole in my dress.

“Okay, how should my opening be like? When the interviewer asks me a question, do I like it? Sit in a certain way? Like cross my hands?” He demonstrated for me and I let out a small laugh. “Never sit with your hands crossed because that shows you’re either too arrogant or uninterested. Sit up straight, never slouch, and pay attention to the question, you do not need a CNN reporter to repeat himself on live television.”

“You seem like a pro at this, how many interviews have you done?”

“None.” I shrugged. “But I do watch the both Jimmy’s on TV, paying attention to the celebrities’ posture and points of speech.”

“Both Jimmy’s? Jimmy who?” he asked. I sighed. “Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon live?” I asked, shaking my head. He stared at me blankly. “Well, it looks like I’m your personal TV and social life guide.” I said as I grabbed the remote from the coffee table and switched channels to one of Jimmy Fallon’s shows and Jacob watched. 

“See, here we have Chris Evans, look at his posture and the way he looks at Jimmy and his audience. See what he does with his hands?” I pointed using the remote. “Yes ma’am. But you’re pointing at his ass.” Jacob smirked. 

I looked at where I was pointing and quickly retracted my hand, “Well, that too. Don’t stick your ass out too much, that’s catching way too much attention.”

“But that’s the point right? I hope to catch the attention of my audience.”

“Yes, but you want their attention on your face and not your ass.” Now I pointed towards Jacob’s ass as he was leaning forwards with his elbows on his knee, watching the programme. He looked up as he followed the direction to where I was pointing and smirked. My eyes bulged, realizing what I was doing and turned back towards the screen. “Okay, enough TV for you, back to work.” I say and I fumbled with the remote and the potted plant that sat on the coffee table.

“Yes ma’am.” 

Around two hours later, my stomach was growling when I hung up the last piece of ironed clothing on the rack I had wheeled out a while ago. I plopped down on the sofa and stretched, turning my head to a perfectly focused Doctor, who had his airpods plugged in as he typed on his laptop. He looked up and removed one side of his ear piece, “Hungry?” He asked. “You wanna order pizza?” he asked.

“I think I’ll maybe make lunch for the both of us. “However, I was quickly interrupted when my phone rang. I leaned over to pick it up from the coffee table, and held up a finger to excuse myself. 

“Hello? I answered. 

“Rosie! I’m so glad that I have caught you just in time. Are you home? Please tell me you are?” my older sister Madison asked. “Yes I am, do you need anything?” I answered.

“I need to ask a favour from you, would you be a dear and help take care of Riley for me? John is away on a business trip and I have a last minute photo shoot to attend.”

“Sure, it’s fine. Riley can come over.”

“I packed an overnight bag for him just in case, I think this shoot..”

“Might take forever, yes I know.”

“You’re a dear, I’m 5 minutes away. Could you come get him from the lobby? I’m kinda in a rush.” She gushed. “I’ll be right down.” I said. 

“All right, love you!” she says and ends the call. I put my phone down and looked at him. “Can we still order that pizza?” I asked.

“Sure.” He chirped. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but who’s Riley?” 

“He’s my nephew, my older sister is dropping him off at the lobby any time soon and I need to go and pick him up.”

“Alright, let me call the pizza place.”

“And I’ll just run down real quick to get my nephew, he should be arriving anytime soon.”

I waited downstairs at the lobby with my flip flops and yoga pants, hugging myself in my fleece sweater. The last July weather was certainly getting much colder and it tended to rain more.

“Aunt Rosie!” Riley yelled at the top of his lungs but his voice bounced off the rotating doors of the apartment lobby. “Riley.” I waved as I rushed towards the door and helped him.

A honk from the sleek black Audi and the windows rolled down. “Thank you Rosie! I owe you one! Bye sweet pea, mommy loves you!” Madison said loudly from her car.

I waved back as little Riley rushed into me, his height reached me at my knees as he clung onto me like glue. “Bye mommy!” he looked back. “Aunt Rosie, I’ve missed you.” Riley cried as he opened and closed his fingers, signalling me to pick him up. 

“Oh Riley, I’ve missed you too.” I picked him and showered him with kisses. “Come on, let’s go up, it's’ cold down here.”

Riley attempted to push the door to my loft with his tiny arms as I unlocked the doors. “We’re here.” I announced. I put the 2 year old on his feet and he rushed to the lounge area excitedly but his footsteps came to a halt when he met Jacob. 

“Hello? Who are you? My name’s Riley.” I watched Riley’s little head tilt. I need to remind Madison that Riley needs to be taught to be aware of strangers since Riley was doing the total opposite. “Hello there, my name’s Jacob. It’s nice to see you kid.” Jacob ruffled Riley’s hair and looked over to me. “Pizza will be here in 1.” Jacob announced as Riley attempted to climb up the couch with his two small hands, kicking up one foot. “Do you need any help?” I heard Jacob ask as I made my way to the kitchen, getting the two boys a drink.

“No thangs.” Riley struggled with his chubby stomach in the way. “Aunt Rosie says,” he panted. “Aunt Rosie says, I need to practice...climbing chairs and other stuff.” Riley had a knee on the couch, supporting himself as he hoisted the other chubby thigh up. “Does Aunt Rosie love climbing onto things too?” I heard Jacob ask. I poked my head from the kitchen and narrowed my eyes at him. He caught it, smirking back.

“Wow, practice climbing chairs huh?” Jacob looked at me approaching them with two cups. A sippy cup in one hand and a glass cup in the other. “Thangs Aunt Rosie.”  Riley reached for his sippy cup with two hands.

“That way he can be more independent, reaching and climbing things on his own.”

“He’s a kid, not Tarzan.”

“Is okay.” Riley said. “I listen to Aunt Rosie more than mommy sometimes.” He covered his mouth, laughing cheekily.

The doorbell rang and I wanted to get up. “No, let me.” Jacob says as he gets up from the couch.