The Rival Upgrade

Everybody has an annoying trait. Or three. And you just have to remind yourself…it’s no big deal.

“Hey, babe, where’s my protein powder?” I look up from the sage-green couch in the living room of my West Village rooftop apartment, where I’m reviewing the final details for the kickoff of my music club next month, and meet Erik’s concerned gaze. He’s a few feet away in the kitchen, his brow a furrowed line digging into his thick forehead as his gaze darts from the blender on my sleek white countertop, then to the cupboard, then to the blender again.

“The cupboard. Above the stove. Where you left it yesterday,” I say helpfully, since there’s no point getting pissy about it. He shakes his head. “That’s not my whey protein though. I need the whey for muscle recovery. I just worked out,” he says, flipping open another cupboard as he hunts.