𝓿𝓲𝓲. work friend

written – 12.10.23  |  re-written - 9.6.24

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16TH

( SENT AT 11:02 AM ) WOLF BOY:

You still up for that date today?

( SENT AT 11:05 AM ) RONI:

yeah. pick me up around six

( SENT AT 11:05 AM ) RONI:

what should i wear?

( SENT AT 11:07 AM ) WOLF BOY:

We are going to be inside but it might get warm.

( SENT AT 11:08 AM ) RONI:

okay. do i need to wear anything nice?

( SENT AT 11:08 AM ) WOLF BOY:

Definitely not.

( SENT AT 11:09 AM ) RONI:

okay good. i don't have anything nice lol

( SENT AT 11:17 AM ) RONI:

yeah. don't reply to me. real nice.

( SENT AT 11:18 AM ) WOLF BOY:

Sorry, I was taking out the trash.

( SENT AT 11:19 AM ) WOLF BOY:

Have a good day at work!

( SENT AT 11:21 AM ) RONI:

thanks! i'll see you later. bye em!

( SENT AT 11:22 AM ) WOLF BOY:

Bye Roni!

RONI SMILED AT HER PHONE BEFORE gently sliding it into her back pocket, a warm feeling of contentment washing over her. In her opinion, things were progressing nicely with Embry, and she found herself looking forward to their interactions more and more. Embry had been exceptionally thoughtful lately, bringing her food several times during her breaks at the garage. The gesture touched her deeply, as it showed he was thinking about her well-being even when they weren't together.

However, there was one aspect of Embry's kindness that left Roni feeling slightly conflicted. Whenever she attempted to reimburse him for the meals, he would invariably concoct some elaborate excuse to leave hastily, conveniently avoiding any discussion of payment. While Roni appreciated his generosity, a part of her felt uncomfortable with the idea of constantly being on the receiving end without reciprocating. She made a mental note to find a way to repay his kindness, perhaps by surprising him with a thoughtful gesture of her own.

As the days passed, Roni found herself growing increasingly fond of Embry. Their friendship had blossomed rapidly, and she couldn't help but marvel at how naturally they seemed to click. The memory of Embry's reaction when she first referred to him as her friend was etched vividly in her mind. His face had lit up with such unbridled joy, reminiscent of a child discovering a treasure trove of sweets. No matter how many times Roni playfully admonished him to contain his excitement, Embry's infectious grin remained steadfast, stretching from ear to ear and crinkling the corners of his eyes.

"Hey Trevor," Roni called out cheerfully as she entered the break room, depositing her bag on a nearby shelf. Her mind still lingered on thoughts of Embry, but she pushed them aside, focusing on the workday ahead. "Any appointments on the schedule for today?"

Trevor, the receptionist, glanced up from his computer screen and replied, "You've got two scheduled appointments. Mr. Miller is coming in at two forty-five with a broken tail light, and Mr. Daniels needs an oil change at four fifteen. Other than that, we're open for walk-ins." Roni nodded appreciatively, mentally preparing herself for the day's tasks as she deftly tied her hair into a practical, if slightly messy, bun.

With practiced efficiency, Roni made her way to her designated work station. She reached for the familiar red button that controlled the large garage door, pressing it firmly. As the door began to rise with its characteristic groan, Roni couldn't help but wince at the harsh sound. No matter how many times she heard it, the noise never failed to make her ears ring uncomfortably. "Jesus," she muttered under her breath, "we really need to invest in some WD-40 for that thing."

"How's it hanging, little one?" a friendly voice called out, interrupting Roni's thoughts. She looked up to see Jordan approaching, his signature style on full display. Jordan, in his mid-twenties, sported an eye-catching combination of black and blonde dreadlocks that cascaded down to the middle of his back. Perched jauntily on the bridge of his nose were a pair of bright pink sunglasses, adding a pop of color to his ensemble.

"Hey Jordan!" Roni exclaimed, her face breaking into a warm smile. As he stepped closer, she instinctively wrapped an arm around his waist, giving him a quick but affectionate side hug. "I had no idea you were on the schedule today! What a pleasant surprise!"

Jordan shrugged nonchalantly, though Roni could detect a hint of weariness in his voice. "Had to pick up some extra shifts, you know how it goes." Roni nodded sympathetically, understanding all too well the necessity of putting in additional hours. "But enough about that," Jordan continued, his tone brightening, "What's new and exciting in your world, Roni?"

Roni's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as she replied, "Oh, you won't believe it – I've made a new friend!" Her declaration was met with a look of exaggerated shock from Jordan, prompting Roni to playfully swat his arm. "Hey now, I'll have you know I'm extremely likable, thank you very much!"

Jordan couldn't resist teasing her further. "Oh yeah, you're a real charmer – about as likable as the sound of an engine breaking down." His words were punctuated by a hearty laugh as Roni scoffed and gave him a gentle shove. "I'm just pulling your leg, Roni. So, who's this mysterious new friend of yours?"

"His name's Embry Call," Roni explained, a slight smile playing on her lips. "He's from my reservation, so you might have heard of him." Jordan furrowed his brow in concentration for a moment before nodding in recognition.

"Yeah, the name does ring a bell," he confirmed. "So, spill the beans – how did you two end up becoming friends?"

Roni hesitated for a split second before responding, her mind working quickly to craft a plausible story. If there was one thing Roni Lahote excelled at, it was thinking on her feet and spinning convincing tales. "Well, funny story actually," she began, her voice casual and steady. "He initially asked me out on a date, but I had to let him down gently. Told him I wasn't quite ready to jump into the dating scene just yet." She paused, allowing a mischievous glint to enter her eyes before adding, "But, plot twist – we're actually going out on a date tonight!"

Jordan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Well, well, well! I never thought I'd see the day when Roni Lahote agreed to go on a date," he chuckled, shaking his head in amused disbelief. "So, what's the plan? Where's this Embry fellow taking you?"

Roni shrugged, maintaining an air of mystery. "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. All I know is that it's going to be indoors somewhere." She quickly redirected the conversation, not wanting to dwell too long on the fabricated date. "But enough about me and my love life! How are things going with you and Samantha?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Roni noticed a subtle change in Jordan's demeanor. His eyes softened slightly, a hint of melancholy creeping into his expression. Roni's heart sank as she realized she might have inadvertently touched upon a sensitive subject. "Oh no," she said softly, her voice filled with concern. "What happened? I was really rooting for you two!"

Jordan attempted to brush off her worry with a casual shrug, but Roni could sense the underlying emotions he was trying to conceal. "Nothing dramatic happened, really," he explained, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of resignation. "We just realized we had different visions for the future, so we decided it was best to go our separate ways." He paused, a wistful smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "But it's okay. I guess the gods knew we weren't meant to be together in the long run."

Roni's heart went out to her friend, and she reached out to give his arm a comforting squeeze. "I'm sorry to hear that, Jordan. But you know what? I have a feeling that your perfect match is still out there somewhere. And when you do find them, I expect nothing less than a formal invitation to your wedding!" Her words were meant to lighten the mood, and she was relieved to see a genuine smile return to Jordan's face.

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a customer – a woman who had just entered the garage. Roni quickly switched into professional mode. "I've got this one," she told Jordan, who nodded and made his way back to his own station. Turning to the newcomer with a welcoming smile, Roni asked, "Hello, ma'am. What can I do for you today?"

The woman returned Roni's smile, a slightly sheepish expression on her face. "Well, according to my boyfriend, I'm in desperate need of an oil change," she explained with a self-deprecating chuckle.

Roni's demeanor remained warm and reassuring as she replied, "That's absolutely no problem at all. I can have you in and out of here within twenty minutes, tops." The woman's face visibly relaxed at Roni's confident assurance. "All I need are your keys, and you're welcome to make yourself comfortable in our waiting room while I take care of everything."

As the woman fished her keys out of her purse, she added helpfully, "It's the red Jeep out front – pretty hard to miss, I'd say." With a grateful smile, she handed the keys over to Roni before making her way towards the waiting room door, leaving Roni to begin her work on yet another busy day at the garage.