It’s been twenty-four hours since Margo met with Howard and seventy-two hours since she’s seen Reggie.
It’s midnight and Margo has Jimmy Fallon on in the background. She can’t sleep. She’s left Reggie three messages, and he hasn’t responded to a one.
But she’s going to try one more time before she goes to bed.
Margo dials Reggie’s number and after the third ring, he picks up.
“Hello?” He says, knowing full well it’s Margo.
Margo speaks up, “Did I wake you, Reggie?”
Reggie makes an excuse, “I have a long day tomorrow.”
“Okay then, I’ll let you go,” Margo says as she’s about to hang up.
“Wait, I didn’t mean, I can talk for a few minutes,” Reggie says.
Both think to themselves how awkward and strained this conversation is.
“So are you coming back tomorrow?” Margo asks.
Reggie takes a few seconds before he responds, “In the evening. I'll be tired. Probably going straight to bed.”
“I miss you; I love you, bunion,” Margo throws in, in an attempt to melt his tepid heart. Bunion is a silly and strange pet name one or the other uses when they know they’ve done something wrong and want to say so without saying so outright.
Reggie chuckles at her attempt to make up with their pet name, “I love you too, bunion.”
“Can I come over tomorrow and make you something special?” Margo asks.
“I really am coming in late, so how about we meet up the day after next?” Reggie suggests, “We can plan out the final details of our trip to Copper Spur; that is if you’re still in.”
A buzz on Margo’s phone as a message flashes on her screen. It says:
Two days until Black Friday.
Margo hesitates before she manages, “That sounds cool.” Her delayed response stings.
“Am I missing something? Have you changed your mind, Margo?”
Margo dismisses the message on her phone, “No, Reggie, I haven’t changed my mind.”
But Reggie isn’t convinced. “It’s late. Let’s say goodnight. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay, Love—“But before she can complete her sentence, Reggie hangs up.
How did things turn from bad to worst so quickly, Margo thinks?
Why is everything suddenly so uncomfortable after just one disagreement? Margo and Reggie are not the kind of couple that argue all the time. They are also not the type that live in ignorant bliss either.
What drew Margo to Reggie was his strength and his character. He was the first man that called her the very next day after their first date. He wasn’t into games and was looking for someone who wanted something real. He knew that Margo was different.
Margo had dated only two men before Reggie, as she didn’t see dating as a priority. Reggie had dated many women, but none that lasted past the first date. He would find an excuse for why he didn’t like them, then end the date after the waiter brought the check. He would then meet up with his buddies later that night.
But when he met Margo, he already knew where he wanted to go on their second, third and fourth dates. There was no cutting out on the first. She may indeed be the one.
Margo had literally bumped into him in a rush to beat the parking meter cop. While Margo picked up her purse and searched for coins, Reggie put coins in three nearby car meters, to make sure he had hers covered.
Their first date was a coffee date. Yes, they met at a mutually agreed upon coffee house, which would normally be too cliche for Margo. But they took their coffee to go. They walked around the neighborhood and sipped their lattes.
The walk lasted four hours.
Afterward, they went to a local food market. Each agreed to spend only $20 on the other. They gave each other fifteen minutes to shop.
Reggie ended up with a bottle of wine, salsa, and chips. Margo picked up a buttermilk pancake mix, milk, maple syrup, clarified butter and apple-smoked bacon.
They went back to her place, and she served up fluffy pancakes and a side of bacon for dinner. He opened up the bottle of wine and tossed a chip with salsa on it into Margo's mouth.
They were a perfect match.
But right now, Margo can’t shake her aching feeling that this argument was different and that they may not make it past this mountain.
She reaches over to turn the side table lamp off. Perhaps tomorrow will resolve this issue.