Page 22 of Love Undecided
"I know I don’t,” he says.
The conversation seems to stall, so I ask him, “How was the run on the beach?"
"It was spectacular, as always."
"Mmmm, I'm jealous."
"You'll get back there, baby. Just be patient,” he tells me.
My vagina butterflies are all atwitter, they love it when he calls me baby.
"I know.” I hate the melancholy tone that gets in my voice and the longing that I feel.
So I ask a little too loudly, “How's Stacy?"
And with that, all the warmth is sucked from our conversation.
"Fine," he says.
"Great," I say with absolutely no sincerity at all whatsoever, hating that I even brought it up. Then, because I now feel like a total bitch, I also ask, “How is your shift going?"
"It's been slow today. Two car accidents and one burst pipe. No major injuries, luckily. Hoping the second twenty-four hours will go as smoothly. “
"I still find it to be so ridiculous that you guys get called out for home floods."
"It's because of the water intrusion meeting electricity."
"I know, I remember. I still think it's dumb."
He laughs.
I sink into that laugh and let it envelop me.
"I'm pulling into my garage now,” I tell him.
"Okay, I'm going to stay on the phone with you just to make sure everything is okay. I'm sorry I can't be there to check it out personally."
Instead of telling him that it's no longer his job to do that, I just let it be.
He continues, "Do you still carry your Glock? Do you have it on you?"
"Yes, but what exactly do you think I'm walking into here? Aren't you overreacting just a little bit?" I ask.
"You can't be too careful, Kat. Just, please pull it out."
"Fine." I get it from my purse. I have to stifle a giggle when Brad says, ‘pull it out.’
Focus, Kat!
I am at the ready as I open the door leading from my garage into my little house. The alarm is still armed, so I disarm it, and turn on the kitchen light; nothing seems amiss.
I report all of this back to Brad, then check the remainder of my house while he's on the phone with me. Everything looks to be as it should be, which is what I tell Brad.
"Will you just look on the balcony too?" he asks.
"Sure thing, boss-man.”
But everything on the balcony looks normal, except for a plant that's fallen off the railing. It happens often.
