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There was the familiar silence they’d existed in countless times before. She rested with her head against the pillow on “her” side of the bed; a bed that, for the last few weeks, had been entirely hers. They each had the lethargic post-passion drone about their attitudes. Laissez-faire, even.
“Well,” her breathy voice sighed, “That was something.”
Todd pulled her in closer and kissed her on the forehead. By now, it was about 4:15 a.m. on Thursday morning. Todd had yet to return to John’s apartment where he’d been residing and knew he had two options – get the sleep he needed to rid himself of the impending wine hangover, or call an Uber so he could have a fresh change of clothes before heading back to the office.
Her phone sat face down with numerous missed texts from Caroline, who seemed to know just exactly what was going on. Todd’s rested on the bedside table opposite of hers, on “low battery mode” given that there was no charger for him to plug into. Sperry rested at their feet, a familiar position Todd strangely missed.
She couldn’t tell what was more awkward – the lack of back and forth or the silence that lingered in the room. It was clear both of them were wide awake while a re-run of a show Todd had never heard of played on the television in front of them, providing the only light in the room outside of the streetlights outside of her window. Or “their” window, as it would be known going forward.
Todd’s arm remained wrapped around her with his hand on the small of her back. He wanted to sleep, but his mind was racing to the point where he’d accepted that he’d be tired at work all day. He looked down at her while she looked up with a glazed over look on her face.
“So, uh, does this mean I’m moving back in?”
She patted her hand on his chest and jokingly quipped, “Yep, but I’m not helping you move any of your shit.”
Todd laughed half-heartedly before assuring her that he could handle taking his duffle bag from Point-A to Point-B.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Of course,” he assured her.
It wasn’t any sort of novel conversation. In fact, it was the exact conversation you’d expect them to have after a night of Cabernet, then martinis, then more Cabernet before making up.
“Was there any part of you that thought it was over?” she asked, still with her eyes fixated on the screen while not actually paying attention to what was playing.
“Of course not,” Todd comforted her, knowing that any other answer would completely derail what was appearing to be the best night they’d had in months.
“I’ve missed us.”
Todd sat at his desk waiting on his coffee to cool down to a temperature that wouldn’t burn his tongue. It was his third cup of the day and it wasn’t even 11 a.m. yet.
He heard a notification come through on his laptop that he’d forgotten to mute. It was John.
“Late night last night, buddy?” he asked through Google Hangout.
“Uh, yeah, you could say that.”
“Didn’t see you here when I woke up this morning.”
“Ah, yeah, I was back at my place.”
“I know, I’m just fucking with you. Caroline told me.”
“I figured.”
“You moving out?”
“Looks like it – I’ll pop over tonight and grab my shit.”
About an inch of smoothie still remained at the bottom of her disposable cup. She added almond butter today, as a little extra boost. She wanted to suck the last bit through the straw, but feared Caroline would be able to hear her through the other end of the phone.
“So, like, yeah,” she told Caroline. “I think we’re totally back together at this point.”
Caroline knew that this was coming from a mile away based on her performance in San Francisco.
“It just felt so… right, you know?” she asked before continuing. “I always knew I wanted to be with Todd even when I wasn’t with Todd. Like, I know I’ve been kind of unreasonable about things but at the same time, love takes time, you know?”
Caroline nodded along on the other end of the phone with a few uh-huhs and I-knows dropped in to make sure it at least sounded like was paying attention.
“Like, I didn’t mean for last night to happen like it did. Am I mad about it? Obvs not. Did mama need a little sugar? Duh. Am I mad about it? Uhhhhh, no.”
Caroline laughed before asking one of the few questions she’d actually ask through the course of the phone call. “So, like, what’s next?”
“I mean,” she hesitated, “We talked about it this morning and thought we’d just try to get things back to normal. I don’t think we really need to change anything. I think we just needed a little time to reevaluate what we needed and go from there.”
“Is he moving back in tonight?” Caroline questioned, caring for no other reason than to have her place back to herself rather than acting as a half-way house for John’s friends.
“Yeah, he said he would. I think we may do happy hour near your place and stop by and grab his stuff.”
“Double date?” Caroline questioned.
“I’m game if you are,” she said just before sucking up the last of her smoothie.
“Okay, I’ll text John.”
Todd’s phone lit up on his desk. It had been dead most of the morning as he didn’t have time to charge it immediately upon getting back into the office.
He picked it up only to see a text from exactly who he thought he’d see a text from.
Upon looking up from his phone, he noticed his coworker, Zack, standing outside of his office with his head poking through the cracked door.
“What’s that shit-eating grin for?” Zack asked.
“Ah, nothing. What’s up?” Todd responded, setting his phone back on his desk, face down.
“Just scored a couple o’ box seats to the game tonight from Tim down in sales, you want in?”
“Fuck,” Todd lamented. “I’ve already got some shit I committed to. Next time.” .
Respond
Will
Will (Twitter / Instagram) is the host of The Sunday Scaries Podcast.
@willdefries
@willdefries
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All civilized parties must joint together to protect Todd’s sanity and the sacred right of not being manipulated by Girl in order to live in safety and peace. Unfortunately, we jsut heard Fake News CNN is doing polls again that claim Todd is happy despite that fact that his is missing out on what’s in front of him. WAY OFF disaster, much higher ratings at Fox – SAD! Now the is a vicious cycle ahead for Todd. Justice must be fair and swift!
Congrats on the sex, Todd, you moron
I’m willing to bet that Girl brought her A-game for this encounter. No dead fish when you’re trying to patch things up with your landlord… I mean boyfriend.
Barfed a little at “Did mama need a little sugar?”
Mama needs a little arsenic
Mama doesn’t need sugar, just a sugar daddy.
Maybe you could put some ricin in her sugar, Walt.
I am the danger
Chronicles of Todd: Slow Slide into Middle Aged Alcoholism
I hope there was some Kahlua in all those coffees he was drinking
“I don’t think we really need to change anything.” Come. On.
Part of me died inside when I read that.
“WHO SAW THIS COMING?!?!” Everyone. The answer is everyone.
Todd sucks. He gets what he deserves.
All of us were in denial.
Coming soon.. TGDAG: Make a Rezzie for an Ultrasound
So… just like I said. Onward to TGDAG: Engagement, Engagement Photos, Engagement Party, Wedding Announcement, Wedding Shower, Stock the Bar, Bachelorette Party (followed by a 3 part CoT Bachelor Party), Get Married (with a CoT: Cold Feet), Honeymoon in Antigua. Think that covers the bulk of it.
Will just wants to write a mock NYT Wedding Announcement
100%
I’m not against a wonderful but horribly pretentious rendition of their back stories
CoT: have a string of affairs
Todd is too much of a beta to pull the trigger on a side piece.
I can’t wait for this
Haven’t even opened it, just saw the title. Please don’t do this to us William. We need her to suffer.
I just read it. Todd you weak son of a bitch!
SofffffffffT.
FUCK YOU WILL! FUCK YOU! But I knew this was coming I just really didn’t want it to happen.