chicating | More of the same original...

I checked my message. “Hi…I know it’s been a while. Thanks for the Christmas card—the reindeer was cute.
Listen…my mother told me a *crazy* story about you…just wanted to find out what’s true. It’s Alex.” I wouldn’t say my heart flipped over as it would’ve, even the year before, but I wouldn’t say that I felt nothing, either.

I waited until the news was over and then called him back. “Alex…did you call me? I do have a client named Alexis…” I wanted him to know how important I was. So maybe talking to him now was like us going out.

“Yes, it was me.I kind of feel like we should chat some more…” For an instant, I could picture a world where it could be easy…where he could be calling from his van, coming to open up my life. “Are you pregnant? Sorry to put it out there so bluntly.”

“It’s a blunt thing.” Suddenly, my cheeks are hot as if he’d caught me cheating or, at least writing out some little rescue fantasy.

“I’m glad you met somebody…”
“ I wish…it’s not like that.” When we broke up, he took up with someone who looked like me from a distance. Despite my best efforts, that irked me the most.