Page 37 of Man Flu

“You have no car. I remembered at about four this morning.”

“Right,” I tell him.

“How are you feeling?” he asks. There’s a definite switch in his mood. Maybe he turns into a jerk after dark or something. It’s a common issue I’ve found in men throughout my life.

“I’m better, not completely cured, but I’m heading in the right direction, I think.” If my stomach doesn’t explode again today. “Thanks again—”

“Don’t mention it. Really.” Really. I got it now. I won’t mention it.

“Did I do something to upset you?” You know, besides projectile vomit all over you and my house, among everything else I put you through.

“Not at all. Why would you think that?”

I laugh, trying to hide the nervous inflection I can’t control. “You just seem—”

“Tired?”

Okay, maybe he’s a jerk during the day too. Maybe I’m just being sensitive. I shouldn’t care what he thinks anyway. I’m his boss, and he’s already seen way too much of me.

“Let me just grab my bag,” I tell him.

He stands at the door politely as if he has never been inside before. It’s like yesterday didn’t happen. I probably imagined the whole thing. Maybe my sandwich was drugged yesterday, or maybe that bitch at the coffee shop slipped something in my coffee. That would explain everything.

Let it go. Just let it go.

I grab my bag and head back to the door. After locking up the house, I find Rick and Tiana still pacing along their lawn. Does he even go to work anymore? Or is he a full-time caretaker for a miniature dog?

“Hey man,” Logan calls out, waving at Rick. I guess I wasn’t lucky enough to imagine that part of yesterday happening.

“How’s it going?” Rick replies. “What a guy, picking up the leftovers.” My eyes bug out of my head. Did he just say that?

“I forgot I left them here last night,” Logan says with a chuckle.

Confused for a moment, I finally spot a Chinese food bag in Logan’s hand. “They brought over some food for Cora and me last night since your fridge was empty.”

Dear God, why does my life have to keep shitting on me? Please, make it stop.

I climb into Logan’s truck without offering anyone another word. I just can’t come up with anything of any intelligence at the moment.

“You two BFFs now or something?” I ask as Logan climbs in. Oh, it all makes sense now. That’s why he’s acting this way. Rick must have filled his head with made up shit last night. “What did he tell you about me?”

Logan starts up the truck and backs slowly out of the driveway, offering Rick one more wave before shoving the gear into drive. “He didn’t say a thing.”

“You’re a liar,” I tell him.

He looks over at me and grins. “Don’t worry about it, okay?”