Page 39 of Four Weekends and a Funeral

Where does one eat lunch in Duluth?

I wince at my phrasing, but my stupid thumb already pressed send. I watch my phone for dancing dots until I feel sufficiently pathetic. I groan at myself and place my phone face down on my desk. I have enough time to read and respond to one email on traffic patterns near a proposed railway extension before my phone shakes.

10:56 AM

Adam:

Who is one?

10:57 AM

Adam:

Is one me?

11:01 AM

Alison:

One is me, obviously. Boss added me to a presentation in Duluth. 10 AM tomorrow. I usually stop at Culver’s on the way out of town, but now that I have an inside source, I want to know where to go!

11:02 AM

Alison:

Unless Culver’s is the best your city has to offer…

When he doesn’t instantly respond, I start to type, then delete. I type again. Delete.

The vibration from my phone physically startles me, and I see Josh register it with a smirk out of the corner of my eye.

11:25 AM

Adam:

Thoughts on sandwiches?

11:26 AM

Alison:

Positive.

11:29 AM

Adam:

I can meet you at Corktown Deli at noon

“Ahh!” I drop my phone like it’s on fire.

“What’s wrong?” Patty asks. Simultaneously, Josh guesses, “More spiders?”

“No. Sorry. I’m fine. It’s one of those banner ads with weird toes.”

Patty flashes a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry, hon. I hate those too.”

I lower my eyes to my screen, plunging back into my conversation with Adam.

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