Miss, Do I Know You?

10 - Friday, October 16

Sophia had a sense of responsibility that had become very apparent ever since we'd met a month and a half ago. That changed when she slipped behind the wheel, though, and I was left to white-knuckle the door handle for twenty agonizing minutes.

At least our journey to the town she had chosen for our coffee date was over soon. It was the first time I had heard of Cardiff, a bustling town with a community college and a high school, which funnily enough had my first thought going toward a potential escape route, should my strained relationship with a particular woman sour even further. But luckily, Sophia had a knack for lifting my spirits and carrying me away from those murky worries.

"So, yeah. We've been friends for like ten years now. Though Lucas started finding me tolerable only a couple of years ago. I don't exactly blame him," Sophia explained. But then her gaze ignited with curiosity and had her leaning her elbows onto the table. "Okay, enough about me. Your turn now."

I sensed exactly where her thoughts were heading and let out a theatrical sigh. "You're not gonna let it go, are you?"

"It would kill me to let it go. What's going on with you and Martin?"

"She can be a bitch, that's all."

"If she's such a bitch, why was she in your apartment in the middle of the night? With you standing there with your ass out?"

I had to laugh, partly from the absurdity of the situation and partly from the realization that I had nowhere to hide. "Believe me, there's nothing scandalous about it. I happened to run into her in the park, and she helped me with my bruised knee."

"Why do you keep saying she hates you, then?" She cast a skeptical look my way. "She's been around for years, and she has never disliked—actually, no, she has never cared enough to dislike anyone, let alone hang around their house. So, talk."

"We . . . we're still figuring some things out, I guess. I'm so confused."

"Girl, you can't keep me hanging like this. You know I'm far too nosy to let it go."

"She's actually my, uh..." Hesitation and anticipation turned into a nervous smile. "She's my childhood friend."

My words had her sitting still for a few seconds, eyes narrowing. But when she realized I wasn't joking, the impact hit her with full force, causing her to lean back in her chair, nearly toppling over as it screeched against the floor. "What?" Sophia laughed loudly enough that I thought we might get thrown out. "But if you've known her all this time, why on earth are you two—wait, what? What are you saying?"

"I found out two weeks ago after not seeing her for like, seven years."

Her eyes widened, her mouth agape as she leaned in close, a bombardment of questions bursting forth. "Please explain," she squealed. "I can't believe it."

"I'm trying not to care anymore, Soph. No matter how much I try to understand it and sort things out, she just keeps jumping to conclusions, and emotions seem foreign to her."

"Kayla, this is like a soap opera or some twisted book." She chuckled. "Next thing we know, you two are gonna become star-crossed lovers or something."

My grimace prompted another burst of laughter. "What now?" she quipped. "Don't tell me you don't find her attractive. You kind of even dress the same."

"So what?" I scoffed. "Even if there weren't a thousand other reasons why that's never gonna happen, I think she's married anyway."

"To whom? Casper?"

"Who's Casper?"

"The ghost."

I laughed. "Last time I saw her, she wasn't Martin but, uh, I don't even remember how to pronounce that correctly. Lefe-something. But I'm pretty sure she's in a relationship with—"