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He’s been quiet all through dinner. Part of me wonders if he’s going to back out. I’ve never seen him this worked up before.
“Josie, I’ve brought you here to talk to you about something.”
I set down my fork and sit up. This is it.
“Oh, is everything alright at work?” I ask, playing it cool. He waves a hand aside.
“Yes, yes. Fine.”
I wonder if he’s going to repeat everything he says from now on. Will you marry me? Marry me? Like a human echo.
“Good,” I say, blinking slowly and trying to keep eye contact. He averts his gaze and dabs his face with a table napkin.
“Okay, I’m just going to come out and say it.” He looks at me again and clears his throat.
I hold my breath.
“Josie, we’ve been together for a long time now. How long has it been?”
“Three years, four months, and six days,” I reply with too much gusto. I blush and chuckle nervously.
“But who’s counting, right?”
Todd’s face breaks into an amused grin. “That’s just it about you, you always have a plan. Always keeping track of things. I think you’re the most organized person I’ve ever known.”
My smile widens. “Thank you.”
Todd’s smile fades. “That wasn’t a compliment.”
Now my face falls. “Sorry, what?”
Todd leans forward and lowers his tone. Judging by the intense look on his face, I’m not sure I want to hear what he has to say.
“You’re suffocating.”
Ironically, I suddenly start to feel suffocated. I clutch the neckline of my dress and pull it away from my neck to swallow against a lump.
“I think I’ve just come to the conclusion that I’m not getting any younger, and it’s time I settle down.”
I frown. “So, you’re asking me to marry you?”
Todd jumps back. “What? No. I think it’s time we go our separate ways.”
I cross my arms as shock starts to numb me. “Then why did you bring me here?”
“Well, we can’t exactly have this conversation at Wendy’s, can we?” he retorts. Like the idea of breaking up with me at a fast-food place is repugnant. The truth is, I’d kill for a Twisted Frosty right now.
I make a mental note to pick one up on the way home while I shake my head. “You’re breaking up with me? Seriously?”
“Yes. And I knew you’d demand a reason why, so I wrote a list.” Todd takes out a folded piece of paper from his jacket and I watch with horror as he opens it up to read.
I glance around me, noticing that a few people have stopped eating and are beginning to stare.
“Number one: I’m not a monk. I am a red-blooded male with needs that are not being met.”
My face twists with repulsion. “This is a joke, right?”
Todd does not lift his eyes from the paper.
