long-term relationship, so nope.
Liv: Interesting. Why not?
Eros: I don’t have time. There’s a lot involved in having a steady and committed relationship.
Liv: So, you just sleep around?
Eros: Can I plead the fifth?
Liv: This isn’t a trial, but if you don’t want to answer, I’ll give you a pass. Now, tell me more about the trip.
Eros: Well, after the guy left, everything snowballed.
Liv: Are you giving me details?
Eros: I teased Callie for the rest of the week. Nyx was trying to micromanage everyone. She loves Persy, but she’d like to have her privacy back. As you well know, I borrowed Persy’s savings. She can’t afford a down payment or the deposit for a new place, at least not until she gets her quarterly royalties. Nyx isn’t happy that I’m yet to start another business that might fail. She also wants Callie to get a real job or apply for a master’s degree.
Liv: Isn’t that something your parents should be telling you?
Eros: Nyx thinks it’s her responsibility to do that. She is also like one of those mothers who says, “I believe in you, but are you sure you’re doing the right thing? I have a feeling that this won’t be successful—like all your ideas. Do something safe.”
Liv: Does she know she’s not your mother?
Eros: She believes that if she doesn’t take charge of us, we’ll be drowning. She’s afraid of failure. I adore her, but she needs a chill pill. No. She needs to fail to understand that not everything has to be perfect.
Liv: That’s deep.
Eros: How are you?
Liv: I’m well. Dad and Dan are traveling during the summer. I’m officially in charge of the company. I’m the interim president.
Eros: Interim president? That only applies to politics.
Liv: Listen, if the guy wants to call himself the president of his company, it’s his choice.
Eros: I should be the emperor of my company.
Liv: Ha!
Eros: Fine, you can be the empress. I’ll be the god.
Liv: Why don’t you stick to CEO?
Eros: Too conventional, but if that’s what you want, I’ll use it.
Liv: So where is Persy going to live?
Eros: Her agent got her a nice place. I have to help her move this weekend. In the meantime, she gets to live with the ’rents.
Liv: Why didn’t you offer her a room?
Eros: I’m a slob. Her words, not mine.
Liv: So, I dodged the roomie bullet, huh?
Eros: I’m not a slob. They haven’t lived with me for years. During our family trips, I leave my stuff all over the place. It’s a great way to bother them without even trying.
Liv: I have the feeling that you’re different with your family than you are with the outside world. You behave like a big child when you’re with them.
Eros: It’s fun. So, about Costa Rica…
Liv: I already told you, I can’t go.
Eros: You can’t blame a guy for trying. It’s been a couple of months since the last time I saw you.
Liv: Why don’t you come out to San Fran?
Eros: As soon as this business takes off, you’ll be the first person I’ll visit.
Liv: Who’ll be the second one?
Eros: Probably you.
Liv: I might think that you miss me.
Eros: Am I not allowed to miss you?
Liv: It’d be best to keep this platonic. Two friends who help each other with work and text fun stuff.
Eros: So, I can’t ask what you’re wearing.
Liv: Just like I won’t answer with something like, I’m not wearing any panties.
Eros: That means you’re in pajamas. Are you wearing one of the T-shirts you stole from me?
Liv: I didn’t steal them. You left them behind.
Eros: You promised to wash them, and I never saw them again.
Liv: Hey, I need to send a few emails to Dad before leaving the office. Can I text you when I get home?
Eros: Liv, it’s ten. YOU SHOULD BE HOME.
Liv: It’s nine in San Fran, but yes. I’ll leave after I’m done.
Eros: Text me before you leave the building. Take care of yourself. x
Liv: Your sister is kidding, isn’t she?
Eros: What sister and about what?
Liv: Persy… your parents were having sex in the kitchen?
Eros: Yep. You should’ve heard her yelling like she just saw the biggest spider in the world.
Liv: And what about what your dad said about the juicy…?
Eros: All true.
Liv: They are putting the Sixtysutra book to good use.
Eros: I don’t think my sisters appreciate the present I gave them for Christmas.
Liv: Your sister is right. Who wouldn’t want to be sixty and still be passionately in love?
Eros: If we’re single by the time we’re sixty, we can