Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah Page A

and she’s like, “Go to Rosario’s, they’ll definitely be open” in that drunk girl way I know I can’t argue with. So I’m like fine , and make the cab turn around and go to Rosario’s. I wait on line for like 10 minutes, get the pizza, and am about to get another cab when I get a text from her: “Bring beer too.” So I go to a bodega, get a six-pack, get in a cab, and finally get to her place. Ring the door—no answer. Ring again. No answer. Call her on the phone, no answer. She just passed out. At this point, it’s starting to rain, so I can’t even get a cab back to my place, and I end up having to call an Uber to come get me. Surge pricing, too.
    Between the cabs, pizza, beer, and transport, I spent $70 in less than forty-five minutes.
    Is it crazy I kind of miss Madeline?
    Â 
    Subject: Re: (no subject)
    From: David Meyer
    Date: Fri, Sep 12 at 11:14 AM
    To: Elliot Rowe
    Don’t know if I’d call it crazy, but it’s definitely predictable.
    Â 

 

    Â 
    Subject: Hey
    From: Elliot Rowe
    Date: Thu, Sep 18 at 6:02 PM
    To: Madeline Whittaker
    Hey Madeline,
    How’s it going? Kind of weird having to be so formal in an email to you, but, uh, yeah.
    Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I still have that cashmere cardigan of yours. I probably wouldn’t have said anything if it was, like, cotton, or even a merino wool blend, but, you know, cashmere. You probably want it back.
    Lemme know what’s easiest for you—happy to bring it by, send it over, or leave it here for you to pick up.
    Hope you’re well. I saw one of your authors profiled in Sunday Styles last week and felt a twinge of pride. Glad work is going good.
    â€”e
    Â 

    Â 

    Â 
    -------- Forwarded Message --------
    Subject: Hey
    From: Elliot Rowe
    Date: Thu, Sep 18 at 6:02 PM
    To: Madeline Whittaker
    Hey Madeline,
    How’s it going? Kind of weird having to be so formal in an email . . .
    Â 
    Subject: [Fwd: Hey]
    From: Madeline Whittaker
    Date: Thu, Sep 18 at 6:06 PM
    To: Emily Roberts
    So 1.5 million years later . . . this arrives.
    Â 
    Subject: Re: [Fwd: Hey]
    From: Emily Roberts
    Date: Thu, Sep 18 at 7:01 PM
    To: Madeline Whittaker
    Jesus. Not really a fan of the uber-chummy tone there. I mean . . . how are you feeling? And do you need me to get the sweater?
    Â 
    Subject: Re: [Fwd: Hey]
    From: Madeline Whittaker
    Date: Thu, Sep 18 at 7:03 PM
    To: Emily Roberts
    I feel like he is, uh, right. It is, uh, weird to be so ugh formal and so soon.
    Look: I don’t think he strung me along cruelly. I don’t think he is a sociopath.
    But no, you do not get to be a gentleman by saying “whatever’s easiest for you.” I know him. I know what he’s trying to do. And no, you do not get to participate in my success or feel “proud” of me because you see something you know I had a part in in the Sunday fucking Styles section.
    THAT is insensitive. Like I’m already becoming this kind of a thing he dated. The Cookbook Chick.
    And work is going “well,” not “good.” The alternative doesn’t make you easy/breezy, it makes you retarded.
    Â 
    Subject: Re: [Fwd: Hey]
    From: Emily Roberts
    Date: Thu, Sep 18 at 7:05 PM
    To: Madeline Whittaker
    Right. So do you want me to get the sweater?
    Â 

    Â 

    Â 
    Subject: Re: Hey
    From: Madeline Whittaker
    Date: Sun, Sep 21 at 8:02 PM
    To: Elliot Rowe
    Hi Elliot,
    I’ll give Emily your contact info so you guys can arrange a time