“He had an episode yesterday,” I explained, feeling the weight of the phone call return. “There’s talk of having him committed. I don’t want to do it if he can make it through, but I can’t risk the well-being of the other residents. If he’s a danger to others or himself…”
Warren nodded, not needing to hear more.
“You know what the right thing is to do,” he answered earnestly. “I know it’s hard, but you’re doing the best you can.”
“Hell,” I remarked with a long, weary exhale. “I sure freaking hope so.”
“Go on and get ready for work,” Warren insisted as he sat himself down at the kitchen table. “I’ll be fine here.”
“Do you seriously want to head into together?”
Warren laughed. “What? You think people might get the wrong idea about us?”
I rolled my eyes. “I just meant it’s going to be a little while.”
“I know how to be patient,” he swore, “and we both know you’d be lucky to have me as your secret boyfriend.”
Warren always loved humoring himself. As he finished his apple, I fixed my coffee and got dressed. Having my friend around meant I didn’t putter around as much. I was ready to go and sliding into the passenger’s seat of his black hatchback in record time. Turning the keys in his car, Warren let the little Italian car rumble alive. The sounds of classical music hummed through the speakers as he pulled out from his parallel spot. It was only then I remembered Warren had shown up with a request to talk.
“The chat you want to have,” I began, “it’s about Millie, isn’t it?”
“How did you figure that out?”
I shrugged, staring out my window. “Last time you showed up unannounced, it was about her.”
“Hey, I didn’t text you.”
My eyes shifted to him. “Just tell me, Warren.”
“I don’t know if you’re gonna love hearing this.”
For a second, I thought this was another cocky or teasing remark, but his eyes were earnest. He pulled up to a light with tension growing in his shoulders, forcing his fingers to tap against the steering wheel.
“What?” I demanded.
This day couldn’t get any worse than my night before. After being up late with nurses and staff at a mental hospital, I doubted anything he could say could bring me into a worse state.
“I caught Millie kissing someone outside your office.” He blurted out.
I froze. As the light shifted to green, Warren drove on, but I was stuck on his confession.
To be honest, I was almost heartbroken. I really liked Millie, and I wanted her to like me too. If she had fallen for with someone else, then I could hang up my hat where that was concerned and continue sleeping alone. Warren was right: it was bad news.
“Well?” my friend demanded.
“Well, what?”
“What do you think? Aren’t you angry?”
“We’re not dating each other,” I pointed out, rationalizing it to ease my own aching heart. “She’s free to kiss whomever she wants.”
“That’s very mature of you, but I call bullshit.”
“Do you know who she was kissing?” I asked.
I was just a glutton for punishment now. Fussing with the sleeves of my cashmere sweater, I tried to keep calm. It wasn’t a big deal, even if I had been worried about her.
She wasn’t there in the morning or when I got back that afternoon. It was the first time I realized how accustom I’d become to having her around during the week. When she finished this project with me… I didn’t know how I was going to fare.