“What kept you till this time?” Jessie asked when I got to the room.

“Nothing important,”

“OK, then are we cooking today?” she said.

“Yes, I am hungry,”

So we were having our favourite, spaghetti and meatballs with chilli sauce.

“So there is this guy…” I started.

“I knew it,” Jessie, as always, wouldn’t let me finish.

“Jessie, you don’t even know what I am going to say,” I said with my eyes wide open.

“OK, my bad, I am listening…”

“I helped him with software development today and he… he…” I couldn’t let the words out.

“He did what? Asked you out on a date?”

“No, no, no he asked me to watch him play this Saturday and I really can’t go. You know that I can’t… I just don’t know how to tell him,” I said with a sad face, throwing my fork on my plate.

“You like him,”

“What, are you out of your mind? Of course not, I don’t like the guy at all, he’s a lady’s man,” I said.

“Whooa… don’t bite my head off, I was just asking. And what could be the reason for you not wanting to go there?”

“Jessie really, me and people, remember? Come on, you know me, you of all people know that I really can’t go there,”

“OK, but if I were you I would probably call the guy and tell him I can’t go. Better to let him know than to get his hopes up,” she said.

“What hopes?”

“I meant, he might think you’ll come, I couldn’t imagine his disappointment when you don’t show up,”

“I don’t have even his number Jessie,”

“OK that’s bad, you’ll tell him tomorrow then face to face,”

“I suppose. I just lost my appetite so I will take a shower and head to bed, OK?” I said taking my food to the refrigerator.

“OK hunny, good night,”

I felt like the night was too long. I couldn’t sleep, rehearsing the proper way of saying I can’t go with the guy. I didn’t know when I fell asleep but when I did, I can assure you it was late, which was so unlike me.

*****

“Lue… you late,” Jessie was calling me.

“Oh my goodness…” I was 20 minutes behind.

“What are you wearing?” she asked.

“Black jeans with that shirt on the hanger, you can iron the shirt only,” I was rushing to take a shower.

“What about breakfast, you know you can’t miss that?” she called while I was in the shower.

“Today I have to, but don’t worry, I’ll grab something on my way out,” I was pacing in the room, getting ready.

“OK then, I am done here,” she said.

Within 25 minutes I was done. I grabbed my bag, a few other things and an energy bar since I missed breakfast, and off I went.

“Bye, I love you,” I said to Jess.

***

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