Page 34 of Misfortune and Mr. Right

“What? Why are you in the supply closet talking to a door? Do I need to take an early lunch? Do you feel dizzy? What day is it? Who’s the president? Do you remember the name of our first-grade teacher?”

“I know what day it is, and I don’t feel dizzy. And Mrs. Beezy was our first-grade teacher. I’m not confused. I dashed in here to get a minute to myself after Darwin basically initiated Logan into his secret success society.”

“I heard you,” Logan says.

“You don’t know what Darwin did,” Megan says. “Maybe he was saying ‘I’ve got my eye on you …’ in aYou’d better watch outkind of way.” She starts hummingSanta Claus is Coming to Town.

“Olivia? I heard you. Are you in there?” Logan jiggles the door handle.

“No! Leave me alone. I need some privacy.”

“Talking to the door?” Megan asks.

“To Logan. On the other side of the door.”

Megan says something to a coworker. Then she says, “Listen, Olivia. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you as soon as I get out of work. I’ll bring Chinese takeout and we’ll discuss all this over dinner.”

Logan jiggles the doorknob again.

“See you tonight!” Megan shouts into the phone, and then she hangs up.

It’s right at this moment that I realize Logan wouldn’t be jiggling the handle if he were able to twist it open.

“Olivia?”

“Logan?”

“Why are you locked in the supply closet?”

“Locked in?”

“Can you unlock it from inside?” His voice is concerned but in a superior way, like he’d never lock himself in a supply closet.

“I’m good.”

I’m not good. I don’t like being out of control, and I definitely don’t like being locked in small dark spaces. And most of all, I don’t like being locked in small spaces while the bane of my existence gloats outside the door.

“You sure?” he asks.

“Yep. Top of my game. Totally good. Just getting some … toner.”

“Toner?” His voice is incredulous.

“Yes. For printing.” I turn my phone flashlight on and wave it around to illuminate my surroundings. “Ah. There it is! Got it.”

“Okay. Come on out.”

“I, uh … have to look for … some other supplies. I’ll meet you … in the workroom.”

“Are you locked in?” Logan asks.Againwith the faux concern.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“Olivia.” He sounds so pompous. Like he’s the one outside the door while I’m stuck in here. Which he obviously is. But that doesn’t make him better than me, just because he’s not locked in a closet at this moment.

“Logan.”

“Olivia.”

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