DogPerson158:I’m meeting my ex-husband for lunch on Saturday.
I wasn’t prepared for that. I want to ask her where and when so I can be there in case he’s mean to her or yells at her or makes her uncomfortable.
HandsyGuy37:In a public place?
DogPerson158:We’re meeting at Tate’s Diner. At ten. I’m hoping everyone will still be in church and we’ll have the place mostly to ourselves. But not completely to ourselves, since there will be staff and I can run out if I need to. My parents think I shouldn’t meet with him at all, that I should cut him out of my life, but that’s impossible in this town. He’d so easily just go behind my back to see our kid. Am I making a mistake? Should I cancel?
I want to tell her to cancel so badly. I want to find that guy and tell him to leave them alone. But I can’t imagine my life without both of my parents. It’s not a decision I can make for Amelia or her daughter.
HandsyGuy37:I think you have to hear him out, but can you take someone with you? Just in case he gets belligerent or causes a scene.
DogPerson158:He’s not that kind of guy. I’ll be fine.
HandsyGuy37:It’s been years since you’ve seen him. What if he’s changed?
DogPerson158:We’ll be in a public place. If I brought any of my family or my friends, trust me, they’d only make things worse.
‘Take me’ is what I want to say. But that would require me telling her who I am. It would be worth it if I could keep her safe.
But how to start?
Maybe at the beginning?
HandsyGuy37:What if there was someone in your life who wouldn’t make things worse?
DogPerson158:I’m sure you’d be great, but I’m not ruining what we have over this one meal with my ex.
I start typing an answer, ready to confess it all, but she beats me to the punch.
DogPerson158:I’m not willing to do anything to risk our friendship, HandsyGuy. Sorry, but that’s where I’m at right now.
Damn it. I don’t want to ruin this thing either, but the truth will be better for her. Knowing I’m the guy she’s been hooking up with will be good news. Right?
My heart is pounding, and my mouth is dry. I need to get this exactly right, or it could ruin everything for both of us.
I decide to come at it sideways. HandsyGuy37:I want to be upfront and honest with you, DogPerson. Our friendship means everything to me, but I need you to know that I’m seeing someone. It’s not serious yet, but I’m hoping it could be. She’s an amazing person.
I hit send. I’ve dipped a toe in the water. Next step is the big reveal, but I need to know where Amelia/DogPerson’s head is at before I just drop the bomb on her.
As usual, she doesn’t say what I expect.
DogPerson185:That’s actually a huge relief. I’ve been seeing someone myself. He’s just a good-time guy, and the relationship is entirely casual (I have no desire at all for things to get more serious, and that’s never going to change for me). I should have told you. That’s on me. Can you forgive me?
I can’t breathe. Something is squeezing my lungs from inside my body, and I can’t manage a single breath.
I’m a good-time guy to her? Someone she’ll never even consider a serious relationship with?
Wow.
Just wow.
That one hurts.
Deep.
I thump my chest with my fist and manage to suck in some air, but I’m stunned, dazed, heartbroken.
And I have no fucking idea how to go forward.
