I Can Explain

It was already evening when her thoughts converged into one point.

If Ray could do it and her awful ex could do it, why couldn't she? She had every right to move on. She pushed back all the warnings her mind threw at her and dialed Barry's number.

"Hello?" she rasped.

"Katherine, what a surprise!" He sounded really nice, gentle, and the kind who wouldn't cheat. She could talk to him now without discomfort. All it took was her heart being wrenched out of her chest. Nothing unusual.

"You told me to call you if I wanted to talk or go out..." she said tentatively.

"Yes, I did. Is something the matter?" he asked, sounding concerned. She let out a sad laugh.

"Nothing. Are you free on Wednesday?"

"I have work until four but am free after that. Are you sure you want to go out?" He sounded skeptical. Of course, it had only been a week or so since she had said that she was seeing someone.

"Yes," she said confidently.