Work Text:
Sunday, October 8, 4:13 am
From: [email protected]
Subject:[urgent] List
Carmen,
With your imminent departure from The Bear, I thought it best to come up with a list of things that need to be accomplished before you fuck off forever you divest your interest in the restaurant’s partnership. Please ensure these items are taken care of or otherwise handed off before you do.
- Reset emergency contact for alarm company to Sydney
- Reset master password for Restaurant365 and provide to Natalie and/or Sydney
- Update website to reflect staffing and ownership changes
- Contact reps #1-5 for the city office to update ownership info
- Liquor license contact change?? FIND OUT
- See if IRA Chef’s Table obligations can be changed to Richie
- Decide if you are taking your cookbooks and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
- Have Nat reschedule that interview with me instead of you
I don’t know, there’s probably more but seeing how well you handled calling the fucking fridge guy back…
Please advise when you anticipate these items will be completed at your earliest convenience.
Best,
Sydney Adamu
chef de cuisine | the bear
666 n orleans st | chicago illinois
Sunday, October 8, 4:22 am
From: [email protected]
Subject RE: [urgent] List
The fuck Sydney?
I’m not leaving yet. I told you that.
Its 4am. I know you haven’t been home that long but are you okay?
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 4:25 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: [urgent] List
Obviously I’m fine. Just getting organized. Caring about everything more than anything.
…
Sunday, October 8, 4:27 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
I repeat, the fuck Sydney?
Are you okay? Do you want to talk? Have you been spiraling since you left the restaurant?
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 4:32 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
OBVIOUSLY I AM FINE.
And obviously YOU need to tell Jimmy. That’s going to be fun for you me.
…
Sunday, October 8, 4:35 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
OBVIOUSLY I DON’T BELIEVE YOU
And whatever Syd. I’ll do whatever you need me to do
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 4:42 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
It’s whatever, Carmen. Just start taking care of the shit on the list on Monday.
Best,
Sydney
…
Sunday, October 8, 4:47 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
It’s not whatever.
And why does Best feel way fucking worse than you telling me to fuck off?
Can we talk please? Syd? Call me?
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 4:48 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
Also, add scheduling time with Nat to make sure you aren’t primary on any vendor accounts to the list, please. Thank you.
…
Sunday, October 8, 4:53 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
I don’t like how we left things. You’re obviously upset and I get it and it’s okay Syd. I’m not even going to try to talk you into being less fucking pissed at me. It’s fine if you are. I guess I just thought that you would be happy you didn’t have to deal with my bullshit anymore. I don’t know
Can we talk? It’s not even about keeping you from sitting around and getting more pissed at me. I can take that. I probably even deserve to take that probably. I just want to make sure you’re okay.
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 4:57 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
You don’t know anything, Carmen.
…
Sunday, October 8, 4:59 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
Okay…then tell me. I’m listening.
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 5:00 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
HA.
…
Sunday, October 8, 5:01 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
Please answer your phone, Syd
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 5:03 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
Carmen…
…
Sunday, October 8, 5:10 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
Sydney…
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 5:11 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
You’re seriously outside. You seriously just rang my buzzer.
…
Sunday, October 8, 5:12 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
I was worried. I am worried.
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 5:13 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
Carmy…
…
Sunday, October 8, 5:14 am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
Please, Syd.
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 5:15am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
Someone just let me in when they left to walk their dog. I’m at your door.
If you really don’t want to see me, I’ll leave in five minutes if you don’t open your door and we can talk on monday. but id like to see you Syd.
[Sent from my iPhone]
Sunday, October 8, 5:20am
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: [urgent] List
I’m sorry Syd.
Uhm I guess…call me if you change your mind. I just…
I just want…
[Sent from my iPhone]
Carmy stands, brushing off any floor detritus that caught on his jeans from the institutional-style carpet of her hallway. He curls his hand into a fist, raising it to the spot underneath her peephole, holding it suspended before making contact with the wood. As much as he tries to tell himself maybe she just didn’t see his last message, he knows she did. And he just can’t bring himself to knock even if walking away feels a little like what he imagines dying might feel like.
Sighing, Carmy drops his clenched hand back down to his side before swiping to update his inbox with his other, one more time. 5:22 am. It’s been more than five with no email and the door still firmly shut; he should leave her be.
And as he turns towards the dim staircase to leave, a deadbolt flips. A lock turns. A chain swings and scratches against wood. The door squeaks as it creaks open; he should find her some WD-40. He should find himself a spine. Or a fucking clue.
“What do you want, Carm?” he hears her whisper through the gap.
She wears a forest green hoodie only on her forearms, slung low across her back. An oversized Chicago Jazz Fest t-shirt from 1995 hangs off her shoulder, blue hands playing a keyboard splayed across her stomach like the frown plays across her face. Her braids hang around her shoulders, loose and lovely.
“What?” he asks because that’s the only word he can conjure, in spite of all of the beatitudes he’s spent the last thirteen minutes composing in his mind.
Her fingers curl around the doorframe. She sighs; he feels it everywhere. “You just want what, Carmen?”
“You,” he says simply. The honesty makes him feel like he can breathe, fully, finally. “I just want you.”
The door swings open the rest of the way.