Pierre knows something's wrong the second he walks into the bodega.
Not the usual kind of wrong. Not Luis being out or Catherine acting like he personally invented suffering just to annoy her. This is different.
Because the second he steps inside he hears a very familiar voice.
"Bro, what are the odds?"
No. No, NOO, NOOOO.
He turns his head slowly. Already regretting his entire existence.
Standing near the chip aisle is Devin. Grinning like he just won the lottery.
Devin. His coworker. The line cook who never shuts up. Who has somehow decided his life's purpose is to make Pierre's miserable.
And worst of all.
Devin is now looking directly at Catherine. Like he just discovered something life-altering.
"Ohhh," he says. Dragging out the syllable. "So this is why you're always so eager to clock out."
Pierre closes his eyes. He needs God to give him strength.
Catherine looks completely disgusted. "Excuse me?"
Devin laughs. "Dude you never wanna grab a beer after work but you'll rush outta there like your life depends on it. And now I see why."
He nudges Pierre's shoulder. Like they're in on some inside joke.
This cannot be good.
Catherine turns her entire body toward Pierre. Eyes narrowed. Ready to kill.
"Pierre," she says. Voice completely even. "Would you like to explain?"
He would in fact not like to explain.
Unfortunately he has no choice.
He clears his throat. "I—uh—this is Devin. Devin, this is—"
"Oh I know," Devin interrupts. Way too enthusiastic. "You talk about her all the time."
Excuse me?
Pierre wants to leave his body.
Catherine blinks. Slow. Processing. Calculating. Plotting murder.
Devin keeps going. "Yeah man you're always talking about some 'bodega girl.'"
Bodega girl. Kill him now.
The world tilts.
Catherine folds her arms. Turns her full attention back to Pierre. "Bodega girl?"
Pierre coughs into his fist. "I feel like we're all taking things out of context."
"Oh no let's add more context,"she says sweetly. Which is terrifying.
Devin leans against the counter. Absolutely thriving in Pierre's suffering. "Hey don't let him downplay it. He calls you 'his nightly routine.'"
Pierre chokes on air.
My vision tunnels. The fluorescent lights buzz. Stretching into infinity as my soul detaches from my body.
His nightly routine?
Catherine tilts her head. "His what?"
Devin grins. "You know like 'Oh man can't be late for my nightly routine—"
"Okay," Pierre says. Clapping his hands together. "Devin buddy why don't we focus on your life instead of ruining mine?"
Catherine hums. Still looking entirely too pleased. "No this is interesting. Pierre tell me more about your 'nightly routine.'"
Devin? Having the best day of his life.
Pierre? Contemplating vanishing into the void.
Luis miraculously back at the register. Watching all of this unfold like it's premium entertainment.
Pierre grabs his iced coffee and starts backing away. "Well this has been fun—"
"Oh we're not done," Catherine calls after him. Smiling.
Devin laughs. "Yeah man you can't just leave your girl like that."
The air freezes.
Catherine and Pierre both stiffen.
Devin realizes exactly what he just said. "Oh wait are you guys—?"
"No," Catherine and Pierre say at the same time. Too fast. Too aggressive.
Devin looks between them. Squints. Then smirks. "Yeah okay. Sure."
Catherine exhales. She's aged at least five years in the last ten minutes.
Pierre takes a long sip of his coffee. It tastes like regret.
Luis ringing up another customer chuckles under his breath.
"Missed a lot while I was gone, huh?"