Chapter 4
Honestly, I was lowkey stressing about ignoring Chris at his house. His life was, like, super structured; he'd hit the hay after midnight, which kinda freaked me out since I'm a total night owl. But he didn't seem to mind me messing with the sofa pillows or leaving snacks all over the place. He'd just give a little frown and ask Mrs. Lori to tidy up, or do it himself if she wasn't around.
So, I stopped being a mess.
I'm the kind of person who's chill with hard boundaries, but not soft ones. If you let me know what's up or what's not cool, I gotchu. If not, I'll just do whatever, and then I'll feel lowkey embarrassed. After two days of playing by the rules, I felt like I was on my way to becoming a monk or something.
So I hopped on my crutch and knocked on Chris's door, telling him I planned to hang with Lily tomorrow.
I could hear him shuffling from the study to the bedroom, but I didn't expect to catch him in the bathroom.
Obvi, he hadn't started washing yet, and ofc, it was my first time seeing him in a bathrobe.
But that's not the tea. When I explained my plan and showed him I could ditch the crutches and bounce a few steps, he gave a nod and said he'd drop me off tomorrow.
Yasss!
The next day, Lily watched Chris help me out of the car and reminded me to call him after we hung out so he could scoop me up. She was all heart-eyes, asking when we'd tie the knot.
I shot her a look and said it was just a bro thing.
Lily couldn't chill with me all day. She was a new media editor at Little Red Flower Film Company, and I was a responsible screenwriter there. She had work to do, and I just came back to say hey to my long-lost cubicle fam.
After getting everyone's warm greetings, I asked if I'd held up any projects lately. But nah, there weren't any. It's a rarity that a person with a broken leg doesn't hold up any work (cuz there was no work).
I studied history 'cause I lowkey loved it, so I chose that major. But after, I realized it was like, so hard to find a job in that field. Later, Lily encouraged me to join her, saying it was a responsible screenwriter gig, but it was really about knowing history and keeping those big-shot screenwriters from messing things up too much.
While chatting with the cutie next to my cubicle, our boss rolled up.
Our boss's last name was Stevens, first name Mason. He was a looker and charming, loved handing out bonuses, but also loved hanging with pretty girls. He claimed to be a playboy, but he was actually just friend-zoned, or, as we liked to call him, the national bestie.
At that moment, the national bestie saw me on crutches and turned up the charm, "How can you come to work like this? Do you love it that much? Go back and rest, I'll give you a bonus."
I seriously wondered if our company ever turned a profit with a boss like that.
That day, I helped Lily send a message and we grabbed some coffee nearby. When Chris picked me up, we bumped into Mason Stevens.
"Who's this... your boyfriend?" Mason eyed Chris's hand on my shoulder.
"Nah," I said, "he's just the temp guardian of a person with limited civil capacity."
After getting in the car, Chris said, "A person with limited civil capacity includes a minor who hasn't reached the age of 18, or an adult who, due to mental or cognitive impairment, can't fully understand or engage in legal transactions or decision-making."
Teaching me law? ? ? I blurted out, "I'm only seventeen..."
Feeling his serious gaze, I switched up my words, "Okay, twenty-two."
Then he said, "A primary responsibility of an adult's guardian falls to their spouse."
Me: Is the law lesson not over yet? ? ?
"And can you not say 'temp'?"
What the heck.
I carefully thought about it and felt that this sentence was interesting.
After pondering for a bit, I said, "Don't think I don't know you're lowkey saying my brain's not good. Only adults who can't take care of themselves need guardians!"
I felt like he was laughing, but when I turned my head, I found that he wasn't. He finally started the car and got ready to head home.
Be smoother with your confession, Mr. Chris, or I swear you'll never have a partner in your life.
