Page 84 of The Disasters of Dating
Do you take pleasure in others’ misfortunes?
No, but sometimes it feels like my life is the only one that is out of whack.
Poppy
Rest assured, it’s not.
So what does a predicted bad day look like for you?
Poppy
You really want to hear this?
The elevator dings again and I step out, pulling my suitcase along next to me. I move faster than I did on the way down, wanting to get inside my room where I can kick off my shoes and lie back on the bed while I text with Poppy.
I push the card to the reader on the door. It beeps and the light turns green. I release a breath and push open the door.
I wish I could say it feels like home, but it doesn’t. It feels like a hotel. But just texting with Poppy makes it seem not quite so lonely.
I push my suitcase to the end of the couch and drop my backpack onto the chair at the desk. Kicking off my shoes, I flip back the comforter and pile up three pillows before I settle onto the bed.
Would I say I wanted to hear about it if I didn’t?
Poppy
You took a while to answer. Are you sure you aren’t saying what you think I want to hear? Or read?
I promise. I was coming in from the car. But now I’m settled and ready to read. Lay it on me.
Poppy
Fine. It all started when an old lady tried to access the employee parking. She backed up the entrance seven cars deep. She was sweet but super confused.
I lay there as the room darkens, smiling as I read Poppy describe a truly horrible day at work. She’s careful to keep any real descriptions of the airport out of the story. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she worked in a mall. But as I’m reading, I realize that if I don’t text her from my other phone, she may think my flight didn’t come in. Or that I didn’t come and see her. After our disagreement yesterday, maybe she’ll think I’m blowing her off. And then maybe she’ll make other plans for Monday and Tuesday night? I can’t stand the thought that I might miss seeing her for this whole trip. It makes me feel panicky.
While she’s texting, I dig out my other phone and pull up her contact. I can’t decide if putting both my SIM cards into one phone will make this process harder or easier. Which is why I’m still using two phones.
Hey, Poppy. I’m back in town. I stopped by the shop, but you must have been at dinner because the other lady was there. I didn’t want you to think that I’d cancelled my trip for this week. Just want to make sure we’re still on for ice cream tomorrow.
Man, I sound a little desperate. But I kind of am. Is it bad if she knows how much I want to see her? I’m not sure if that will help or hinder my plight in moving out of the tourist/friend category.
I lift Lincoln’s phone and read what she wrote to Lincoln. I sit up as I’m reading. And then read it again. Oh, man. The terrible day she is telling me about is the same day that we went to dinner at the airport. I already felt bad about my part in it, but knowing how her day had started, I feel even worse. No wonder she was so sharp with me over the alleged shoplifted gum. Add in that she had already had a run-in with security for doing a good deed and then got to deal with them again after the shoplifting incident? Yeah. Her day had stunk. Royally.
Okay, you totally win. Your day was so much worse than mine!! A black eye? Really? The guy kind of sounds like a jerk.
I push the phone away from me with a grimace, like I’ve done something terrible. Which I kind of have. I’m fishing to find out what she thinks about me. The real Keaton me, not the texting Lincoln me.
I look over at my other phone. Keaton’s phone. (This is terribly confusing. It’s no wonder I can’t keep my texts straight.) She still hasn’t answered my text. Does that mean she would rather talk to Lincoln than me?
Poppy
No, he wasn’t a jerk. He felt bad about the whole thing. He even paid for the dinner that was supposed to be my apology.
It seems like the least he could do. He should have replaced your clothes.
I can’t seem to stop myself. Maybe because she still hasn’t answered Keaton. I shake my head at the predicament I’ve gotten myself into. It’s feeling less wise by the moment.
Poppy
