Page 73 of I Love My Mistake

I walk to repeat again through the closed bathroom door, “Should I dress casual or dressy?”

It swings open and Mark steps out, fully clothed, hair tamed. He has a sexy smirk on his mouth as he looks me over. The idea of me dressed up appeals to his imagination. “Dressy.”

Kathy’s voice in the other room wafts over, heavy in irritated explanation. “I thought I had it! I don’t mean to leave it everywhere. Do you think I’m stupid or something? I’m a frigging doctor! Don’t act like I’m stupid or I won’t do that thing!”

Mark whispers to me, “Is she?”

“Acupuncture,” I nod. “To help fertility. She’s good, too.”

Kathy’s practically yelling, “Look. I have too many things on my mind, so just get off my back! And… take me out tonight! Somewhere nice. I deserve a night out. Yes, I’m serious.” Mark and I try so hard not to laugh. “Good! Come get me.”

She hangs up we both walk out and find her standing triumphantly.

“Nicely done,” I smile, taking the phone.

She opens the door, happy as a clam. “I’d rather he thought of it, but at least I’m going out! Nice to meet you.”

“You, too.” Mark walks into the kitchen to get water. I look down and see Jess returned my text.

Jess: Yay! I’ll bring Chris! Text the deets in a bit.

I smile at the phone. I love my girlfriends. Thank God for them.Prideful anticipation fills me up, thinking, This is so exciting! Finally I won’t be the fifth wheel.

Kathy tucks her scarf tighter and goes to leave, but I reach out and grab her arm, looking to the kitchen to make sure Mark isn’t listening. I whisper as quiet as I can, so quiet that she’s more reading my lips than hearing me. I’m acting it out as I go. “Did you knock before?”

She nods. “Yeah. I knocked a bunch just now. Why are we whispering?”

I roll my eyes. Look back at the kitchen again. We’re safe. “No, before that.”

She frowns and shakes her head.

Guilty for even asking, I mutter, “Must have dreamed it. I was sleeping. Sorry.”

She smirks. “Yeah. Sleeping. Sure you were.”

I wave my fingers at her and she grins and leaves. I close the door and lean my back against it, heavy with thoughts. If it wasn’t her, then who was it? Maybe it was a salesperson going door to door. Maybe it was a plumber searching for the right leak to fix. Maybe it was a delivery guy bringing food to the wrong floor.

Maybe I’m grasping at imaginary phantoms.