Page 308 of The Doctors Will See You Now

Harlow: Lucky for you, I like the shopping and the sex. I’ll meet you there in two and A HALF hours. I’m not gonna be dropping in on some stupid medical meeting.

Some stupid medical meeting. I didn’t bother correcting her.

Me: Fine. 2.5 hours. Jane. See you there.

Harlow: Order me some crepes to go.

I laughed as I sank into the seat of the cab. The driver looked back at me with distrust. Apparently, I’d laughed loudly.

“It’s just the text message,” I explained for some asinine reason. “It was funny.”

The cab driver said nothing.

Okay, then.

Me: You just got me in trouble with the cab driver.

Harlow: Me? What’d I do?

Me: Apparently, infected my laugh with the spirit of the devil.

Harlow: Wow. And from all the way uptown. I’m talented.

Me: So your apartment is uptown?

Harlow: No. Shut up.

Me: I’m going to find out where you live eventually. Why don’t you just invite me back there today?

Harlow: I’m not at home. I’m…out buying cheese.

Me: I’d wager you do your cheese buying close to your apartment.

Harlow: Go away.

I barked a shout of laughter, and the cabbie glared at me again. Geez. Rough crowd.

“I was just messaging with my…” I cleared my throat, expecting to choke on the word, but it came out altogether too easily. “Girlfriend.”

I’d never used that word before. Not in my entire life. I’d expected it would feel more traumatizing. Instead, I found myself smiling.

And then, frowning.

Christ, is she my girlfriend?

Not really.

Would she want to be?

Probably not. She felt more like a hostage than anything. Arm-twisted, coerced, and blindfolded into my company.

Though, she did seem to like my company once she was in it.

Me: Do you actually like me?

Harlow: This is a weird question.

Me: I mean, am I annoying?