Page 58 of This Is How It Started
Josh: “Do you know where you’re going yet? I’m off in ten.”
No answer.
Two days later.
Beth: “I don’t want to fight with you anymore.”
Josh: “Really? Because it seems like you do.”
Beth: “No, I don’t. I love you and I want us to get along.”
Josh: “I love you too and will endeavor to do better. Date night tonight?”
Beth: “I have Jacob’s thing. But I could cancel.”
Josh: “Don’t cancel. We’ll do it tomorrow night. Or better yet, let’s go away for the weekend.”
Beth: “Ooh, that sounds wonderful. Surprise me with somewhere good.”
Josh: “Okay, one surprise coming right up.” Heart emoji.
My years with Josh had been filled with heart emojis. Now, I want to ban them for life and fine anyone a million dollars who dares to use them in anything other than a Valentine’s card. And even that is questionable.
In for the long haul, I stretch out on the bed and prop a few pillows behind my head. I’m now in October, which from a quick glance is off to a rocky start.
Beth: “You embarrassed me last night. I don’t know what’s wrong with you lately.”
Josh: “What’s wrong with me? Take a wild guess, Beth. And by the way, taking off this morning before we had time to talk and forcing us to have this conversation by text is beyond fucked up.”
Beth: “No, what’s fucked up is you making a scene last night in front of all my friends at Jacob’s opening. You know how important the night was to him.”
Josh: “This is the thing, Beth. I don’t give a flying fuck about Jacob or his goddamn opening.”
Beth: “You made that quite apparent. I’m going to class now. I hope you spend some time today thinking about how childish you sound.”
I can’t get a read on November. It’s cryptic at best. But there’s definitely trouble in paradise. I skim through the highlights.
Josh: “Next time you decide to be out until four in the morning, have the decency to call. If you’re still home, or even awake, I forgot to turn off the coffee maker when I left this morning.”
Beth: “I’m sorry. We were studying and the time got away from me. I’m sure midterms weren’t that long ago for you that you can’t remember how it was. But it was inconsiderate of me. I promise to do better.”
Josh: “I was just worried, that’s all. Let’s carve out some time for dinner tonight.”
Beth: “Can’t. More study group. Jan van Eyck is a bitch. I swear he’ll be the death of me. I don’t even like Netherlandish painting.” Barfing face emoji.
Josh: Laughing face emoji. “You’ll get through it. Have a presentation in ten, so gotta go. Love you.”
Next day.
Josh: “Had a meeting on the Peninsula, so snuck out before you were up. How’d you get home last night?”
Beth: “Jacob gave me a ride. How was the meeting?”
Josh: “Not bad. I think the Ryans liked the design. It was mostly Bill’s, but the fireplace was all mine. And that’s what they went crazy over.”
Beth: “That’s great. FYI: a bunch of us are going out to celebrate after the midterm. You’re welcome to join us, but I doubt you want to come all the way to the East Bay. Wish me luck.”
Josh: “May the force be with you. Seriously, good luck. I know you’ve got this.”
