iPhone Ex

This story is by Terra Walker and was part of our 2024 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

Rose took a deep breath as she approached the electronics store, only to see the line of people waiting to buy the new iPhone X stretched around the block. After a long day of being forced to toil in the trenches of Capitalism, her patience with humankind was low. “Dammit…” she mumbled.  All she wanted was to get her new phone and go the hell home where she could be alone with a glass of Merlot.

“Excuse me, Miss, but the line starts over…” yelled the assistant manager as Rose marched right through the crowd, her long sable-colored hair flowing, emerald eyes ablaze, a pretend smile plastered across her face. She was laser-focused, a woman on a mission. She stopped at the customer service desk and rapped her knuckles loudly on the counter to get the attention of a service representative.

“Be right with you miss,” said the young man working in the computer repair department. He prodded the motherboard of the CPU laid out in front of him as if he were performing open-heart surgery. Rose sighed loudly and picked up the ballpoint pen attached to the counter, twirling it in her hand impatiently. The man glanced over his shoulder at Rose. He stood up, rolled his shoulders in a circle, and started towards the desk.

“Hey, I’m kind of in a hurry and I need to pick up my phone – my old one won’t turn on anymore. The guy said it would be…” her words trailed off. For a second Rose thought her eyes were playing tricks on her, but as he came closer, she felt her stomach drop. It was her ex-boyfriend, Jeremy.

“Oh hey, Rosie! Wow, I never thought I’d run into you here,” he smiled broadly. “I thought you were allergic to technology?” he laughed. “How can I help you?”

Rose’s guard immediately went up. It had been nearly two years since she last saw him, but the memory of their break-up and the horrible things she said to him still haunted her.

“You know what Jeremy, I’m sick and tired of your bullshit. All you do is sit your lazy ass on MY couch, drink MY beer, and waste hours playing stupid video games. What happened to your dreams…”

 

 Apparently, time had been good to her ex. Rose caught notice of his smooth skin, curly blonde hair, strong shoulders, and deep green eyes. Her face began to flush as beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Seeing him again brought back a flurry of feelings; ones she wasn’t prepared to deal with.

“…like going to college and becoming the next Steve Jobs? What happened to your motivation to be a better man, for yourself, for ME?”

 

Rose tensed and swallowed. She stared straight ahead, mind racing.

“Rose?” asked Jeremy.

No! I am most definitely not OKAY! She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a loud SNAP. She glanced down to see the ballpoint pen in pieces and blue ink staining her hand. “Oh, I didn’t know you worked here…” she said, trying not to look him in the eyes for fear he would see the thoughts running through her head. “I’m sorry, I seem to have broken your pen…”

He laughed with ease. “Don’t worry about it.” He handed her a tissue. She wiped the ink from her hands and tried not to stare at the veins bulging on his well-defined arms. He’d obviously become acquainted with the gym since they’d last seen each other.

Jeremy leaned against the counter and peered into Rose’s eyes.

Rose caught herself staring right back at him.

“You might be the prettiest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on but you’re still a klutz.”

Rose blushed. He was still as charming as ever, but how could he joke with her after all that happened between them? She took a deep, cleansing breath to try to refocus. “My iPhone.  I ordered a new one online. Is it ready?” she asked, breaking eye contact to look anywhere but at him.

“Well, I’d be happy to check. Just give me a minute.” Jeremy smiled so sweetly that Rose couldn’t help but return the gesture with a smile.

He clicked a few buttons on the computer. “Hmmm, that’s odd. I don’t see your order in the system.”

Rose frowned.

“Don’t worry,” said Jeremy, “let me call our warehouse.”

Rose waited anxiously as Jeremy investigated.  Her mind wandered back to that fateful night…

 She was tired of having the same argument. “Ah Rosie,” Jeremey said as he crushed an empty beer can in his fist. He tossed the ball of aluminum across the room and tried to bank a shot off the edge of the recycle bin. “Just relax baby,” his words slurred together slightly. “On the other hand,” he grinned at Rose and started to get up from the couch, a look of passion in his eyes, “you’re so damned sexy when you’re pissed off…”

 

After several phone calls, Jeremy came back to Rose, her ears turning red as memories flooded back.

“So, I’ve got good news and bad news,” he said. “The bad news is your online order never went through to the warehouse so – we don’t have your phone.”

Rose opened her mouth, ready to argue her case.

Jeremey raised his hand, cutting her off; it seemed he was well-versed in how to handle

Rose’s outbursts. “The good news is I can hook you up with a new phone, but you have to promise not to tell my boss, and…” he leaned in close, “it’s gonna cost you extra.”

Rose’s eyes widened. She’d already paid for her new phone, full retail price too. She did not understand the game he was playing. How much more did he want from her?

“Cost me?” asked Rose.

Jeremy chuckled softly as he gazed into her eyes.

What did he mean?

He reached out and touched Rose tenderly on her shoulder. The warmth of his hand infused through her skin – it was so comforting, familiar, and sensual. For a second Rose didn’t know where she was.  Her normally quick and rational mind was mired down with emotions as she recalled the events that led to their breakup…

Rose pushed him back down on to the couch. “Don’t you touch me!” she screamed. “I can’t take this anymore Jeremy. This ends now.  When I get back, I want you GONE.”

“You don’t mean that Rosie, you’re just stressed out.” Jeremy whined. “I’m sorry. Please don’t say that.” He begged. He looked up at her, his green eyes sparkling with tears, “I love you…” he grabbed her hands and held them to his lips, kissing them sloppily.

Rose jerked away. “Stop it. That won’t work this time.” She picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. Fighting back tears, she opened the door to leave. Rose knew she had to do something, so he took her threat seriously. She paused a moment before turning back and adding, “I want you gone tonight…loser.”

That was the word she regretted the most.  Even now, as she looked into his eyes, she hated herself for being so cruel to someone whose only downfall was that he loved her completely and madly – even when she couldn’t love him back. How could she possibly atone for such a sin?

Jeremy sensed her inner turmoil. “Hey, don’t get scared,” he said, “I just want to take you out to dinner – to thank you.”

“Thank me?” puzzled Rose.

“Yeah, if you hadn’t kicked me out and showed me tough love, I’d probably still be sitting on your couch drinking PBR and playing Call of Duty,” he laughed. “Now I have a great job, I’m getting my degree in Computer Science, and I just developed and sold my first iPhone app. I mean, I still enjoy knocking back a few and gaming with the guys, but I learned how to make sushi and play guitar. Hell, I even go to Pilates three times a week! I have almost everything I’ve ever wanted, and I own it all to you Rosie.”

“Almost…everything?” Rose looked down as Jeremy grabbed both of her hands and held them tightly.

“Almost. The only thing missing now is…you.” He said as he brought Rose’s hand to his lips and gently kissed them.

All at once, the anguish and guilt Rose had locked deep inside swelled to the surface and washed over her.  The power of the love she still harbored for Jeremy tore away the flimsy emotional mask she’d taken solace behind. Feelings she’d worked hard to ignore came back with a vengeance. Rose closed her eyes as tears silently rolled down her cheeks. She knew she didn’t deserve a second chance, but she damn well wasn’t going to waste it.  She leaned across the counter and gave Jeremy a passionate kiss – one that told him her answer most certainly was “yes”.

“…only thing I’m missing now is my iPhone X,” said Rose with a grin.