Calling out to Chase

The Reunion

"I'm headed out, don't forget to feed the fish" I said while collecting my keys.

"Okay, MOM!" Said my best friend Alicia. "Hey, don't forget you're going with me to the opening night at Wrigley Field after work".

I roll my eyes. "Trust me, I won't forget. You have reminded me eight times since yesterday morning."

"Well this is big for me."

"Explain to me why this is so big again."

"And this is why I have to remind you so many times. I feel like when I speak, my words go into one of your ears and out the other."

She waits for me to respond but I don't. She has a point. I tend to causally listen to her but I never actually withhold anything she tells me.

"OMG Adrian, you seriously don't remember?"

I choke on my words. I feel like I should remember but nothing is coming to mind. Guilt begins to rise and I break into a small sweat just with the way she is looking at me. I give her a guilty grin and she just rolls her eyes.

"I entered the athletic contest and won the chance to pitch the first ball of the game. Ringing any bells now?"

"Duhh I remember. I was just kidding around. How could I forget that."

I quickly turn around to grab my purse from the couch so she couldn't see the sarcasm in my face but who was I kidding. This girl has known me for years. She knew I was pulling that response from thin air.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. Just don't forget!"

"I won't!" I give her a reassuring smile before I slip out of the apartment.

I decided to stop by my favorite quick cafe before going into work. Solely because I needed to prepare myself for the upcoming shift. I have a coworker who is just insanely annoying and I always leave with an enormous headache, so I could use the energy boost from coffee.

"Adrain, my dear, long time no see!" Says Colby.

He's the owner of the shop and has had a cute crush on me since the first time I walked into his cafe.

"Hi Colby. How are you?"

"I'm doing better now doll face. Are you staying awhile?"

"Unfortunately I have to head to work and I'm kinda in a rush. Could I please just have a mocha latte. But I'm begging you, please hit me with two shots of espresso!!"

"I'm on it. Anything for you my love."

I shake my head and giggle to myself as I stand off to the side waiting for my drink.  I get on my phone to check the time and just as I do so, a message from my boyfriend Nick appears on my screen.

"Hey babe, about next week....I can't come to Chicago. I just got a promotion at my job and my boss wants me to stick around and help with a new project. I hope you don't mind. I'll call you later. Love ya! XO"

Before I could even respond, Colby calls my name and hands me my drink.

"How much do I owe you?"

Colby shoots me a worried look and I give him a confused look in return.

He wipes a tear from my cheek that I didn't realize  was there and says, "It's on the house. I hope you're okay."

I give him a shy smile and whip around to try and leave before embarrassment overwhelms me. But before I could do so I crashed into what felt like a brick wall. I quickly pulled myself on to my feet.