Chapter Text
For all his work with cells and compounds, Andrico had a long-standing love affair with language. He couldn't help but be enthralled by it. He found it fascinating how a politician could talk for an hour but never really say anything at all. Or how 'no' was a complete sentence.
Or how 3 words could make him grit his teeth.
He glared at the phone in his hand.
I miss you was all the text said.
Andrico resisted the urge to chuck it out the window. Of all the people, of all the times. He sucked his teeth in disgust and placed the phone face down on his desk.
"I don't have time for this," he muttered to himself.
And he truly didn't. He still had four pages of data to analyze and notate. Then there was whatever disaster going on downstairs. Everyone in the house was helping set up for the party tonight and by the sound of Marie-Carmel's cursing, it wasn't going well. Not to mention he got stuck with cooking duty.
Despite all the pressing matters vying for his attention, he could not concentrate. Those three little words ringing in his ears like bells.
I miss you
I miss you
I miss you
Andrico snorted in derision. She missed him? She missed him? After almost 2 years, after everything that happened that's all she could say? That she missed him? He expected, he expected…
What had he expected, really? An apology? The sun would sooner burn out before he got one. But some small, idiotic part of him couldn't help hoping for one.
Or you just want to see how far she would go, how much she would grovel, a voice whispered from the darker corners of his heart.
…Well, there was that too. In the first few weeks after the breakup Andrico fantasized about her coming back to him. No, crawling back to him. Begging for him to take her back. In his fantasy he always said no and took great satisfaction in watching her crumble. Now he knew that was a bit naïve. In reality had Madeleine given any indication of wanting to try again, he would be the one on bended knee.
If he were to be completely honest, there's no saying he wouldn't do so now.
Sighing, he reached for his phone again. He should text her back. If only to tell her to fuck off of course. After he finds out what she wants. She had to want something if she was reaching out after all this time. It could be important, after all. She could be in the hospital or being held hostage somewhere or or…
A crash from downstairs broke him out of his thoughts. Marie-Carmel's usually husky voice was shrill in anger. He could hear Andrés' pick up volume as well. Oh Goddesses, here comes the argument.
Running a hand over his face, Andrico started to put away his files. He took the commotion downstairs as a sign to stop. Between the unexpected text from his ex and the storm brewing below him all hope of working on his dissertation was lost.
Another crash rang out throughout the house. Okay. Maybe he could put the rest of his notes away later. Getting up from his chair with a stretch, he glanced down at his phone again. He motioned to grab it but hesitated. Maybe it was best to leave it up here.
I have guests coming though , he thought. And Goddesses know that Jean-Marc can't follow directions for shit.
With that in mind, he picked it back up. He made a point to delete the message from Madeleine. He even found the courage to block her number. A small step, sure, but it was a step in the right direction. Satisfied, he headed downstairs.
Hopefully tonight wasn't going to be a complete disaster.