Page 75 of Anton

I stand there like a fucking idiot, waiting for her to write back.

Thora

Hey! Nice to hear from you. I think this is the first time you’ve texted me.

Anton

Don’t read too much into it.

Thora

Trust me. With you, I never read too much into anything.

The corner of my mouth pulls up.

Anton

Smartass.

She starts to type, then stops, and my pulse thumps in my neck.

Anton

What are you doing today?

I need to see you again.

Thora

Actually, I’m not feeling well. I took off work, which I never do, and am hiding at my place.

That damn pulse hits harder.

She’s sick? Does her family know? Is anyone taking care of her?

Anton

What’s wrong?

Thora

Oh, nothing you probably want to hear about. LOL.

My grip cinches around the phone.

Anton

I asked what’s wrong, Thora.

There’s a long, painful pause before I see her typing.

Thora

Just that time of the month, and this month hit me hard. I feel like crap, and all I want to do is eat a bunch of chocolate and lie in my bed.

But I don’t have any chocolate and I don’t feel like going to the store, so I’m just going to curl up and watch a movie. Probably something sad where someone dies so I can have a good cry.

And they say I’m the one with a problem.