Crossing Paths. 11. Reading Between the Lines

Crossing Paths – Episode 11: Reading Between the Lines

It’s Monday, just before lunchtime. Helen is standing alone in the company kitchenette, waiting for her coffee. A moment later, Clara walks in, fresh out of a meeting. The second she spots Helen, she heads straight toward her.

Clara: Finally! The meeting’s over.

Helen: Wow, that took long. How did it go?

Clara: Well, I didn’t fall asleep, so I guess it was good.

Helen: Haha, that’s always a good sign.

Clara: Anyway, how was the coffee with Thomas?

Helen: Actually, there was no coffee.

Clara: Ah, alright, what happened?

Helen: My sister’s husband had a car accident, so I spent the whole Sunday taking care of her kids.

Clara: Oh no, is he okay?

Helen: Yeah, he’s going to be alright. He broke two ribs, but the doctors say he’ll be fine.

Clara: Do you know how it happened?

Helen: Yeah, someone ran a red light and hit him at an intersection.

Clara: Ah, I see. Well, good to hear it’s not serious. So… no romance.

Helen: Yeah. What can you do?

Clara: Well, did you at least text him? Did you arrange another date?

Helen: I did text him.

Clara: And?

Helen: And he said it was okay.

Clara: And?

Helen: Actually, I don’t know what to think.

Clara: What do you mean?

Helen: I didn’t have time during the day, so I tried calling him in the evening. He didn’t answer.

Clara: Well, I guess he already made other plans.

Helen: Yeah, he texted me this morning and said he’d been out with a friend.

Clara: Okay, understandable.

Helen: Anyway, we texted for a bit… and he seemed uninterested. He was very brief, kinda cold.

Clara: Interesting.

Helen: So in the end I suggested meeting next weekend, and he said he wasn’t sure if he was gonna be free. As if he didn’t really wanna see me. I think the friend he was meeting yesterday was another girl.

Clara: Wow. So you think he had another girl waiting as a backup? I seriously doubt that.

Helen: I don’t know… I just have a feeling.

Clara: Yeah, and I have a feeling he was just out having a beer with a friend.

Helen: But why did he seem so weird in the texts? I tried to explain everything, but he just didn’t care.

Clara: Helen, relax.

Helen: I know… I’m overreacting, aren’t I?

Clara: Listen, I think you did your part. Now let him do his.

Helen: Yeah, you’re right. I’m acting like a teenager.

Clara: You know what, why don’t we go for a drink tonight? You need to relax a bit.

Helen: Honestly, that sounds like a really good idea.