“I’ll figure something out, thanks,” I said, heading to my desk.
Before I could even pull up a towing company’s number, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Marcus.
Let me help. I can drive you to and from work, or just use my car. I insist.”
I stared at the message, confused.
How did he know?
I’d told Emily literally five minutes ago, and she was across the office. The timing felt impossible.
I politely declined, but the interaction left me uncomfortable in ways I couldn’t articulate. It was generous, but something felt wrong.
Over the next few weeks, I started seeing Marcus everywhere.
One Saturday morning at my gym across town, far from both work and my apartment, there he was on the elliptical machine. He waved cheerfully and approached me afterward.
“Hey Caitlin! I didn’t know you came here,” he said brightly.
“Yeah, small world,” I echoed. This gym was nowhere near his house in the northern suburbs. “Do you come here often?”
“Just switched gyms, actually,” he explained easily.
“My old one got too crowded. A buddy recommended this place.”
It sounded reasonable. Completely reasonable.
But my gut told me otherwise.
Days later, I stopped at my usual coffee shop that was 20 minutes from the office. Most of my coworkers went to the Starbucks next to our building, but I loved this quiet spot.
“Caitlin? Wow, this is crazy running into you here.”Continue reading…
