As soon as I set my keys down, a soft thump came from our bedroom. I froze, my eyes glued to the bedroom door. After another minute passed, I heard footsteps. I panicked and fished my pepper spray out of my purse. Just as I was about to aim it in the intruder's direction, Garrett slipped out of our bedroom, wearing nothing but sweatpants.
I breathed a sigh of relief and brought my hand to my heart, lowering the pepper spray.
“Garrett, what the hell are you doing here? You almost gave me a heart attack.”
He looked flushed. He ran his hand through his hair, and didn’t move from his spot in front of the bedroom door.
“I, uh, I wasn’t feeling well, so I came home early.”
I looked at him, puzzled.
“Are you sick? Why didn’t you text me?”
The few times a year when Garrett did get sick, he was a complete baby about it. Last year he begged me to drive home from work just to bring him soup.
“I was going to. I just got home.” He leaned his back against the door. “What areyoudoing here in the middle of the day?”
His whole demeanor felt off to me.
“Someone spilled coffee all over my bag, and the dress I was planning to wear tonight got ruined. I came home to grab something else, but maybe I don’t need to anymore.”
“Why’s that?”
“Um, if you’re sick, I’m assuming dinner is off,” I replied, disappointed.
“I think it’s just something I ate not sitting right. We should still do dinner later.”
He wasn’t meeting my eyes. What was going on with him?
Then I realized. What if he had the ring in there? Maybe he came home to get it and didn't want me to see it.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.
“Okay, well, if dinner is still on, I need to get another dress. I’ll grab it from the closet and be in and out so fast.”
“No,” he cried and gripped the doorknob behind him.
“C’mon, Garrett. Ireallyneed a different dress.” I stepped toward him and gave him my best puppy dog eyes. I didn’t want to spoil my surprise, but I needed to look my best tonight.
Before he could answer, I heard another thump coming from inside the bedroom. I froze.
“Is someone else in there?”
Garrett looked down at his feet.
I felt panicky now. “Garrett, what’s going on?”
I tried to shove past him and get to the door. He didn’t budge.
“Mattie, please just go. Let’s talk later.”
There was a thud now, and I was sure someone else was in there.
“Why the hell is someone else in our bedroom, Garrett? What’s going on?” I demanded, shoving his bare chest.
“Mattie—”
“Move,” I said, giving him a death glare.
