Twenty-Two - Part One

                                    

                                          
I was pulling up to Orphic when my phone rang.
Killing the engine of the car I fished my phone out of my purse.
Seeing Timini's name on the caller ID filled me with a sense of dread that rose out of my stomach and filled my entire chest.
After the adventure we had in LA that night we started seeing each other regularly and while I really, really liked him I couldn't help but feel like something was missing from our relationship. Something big. Something important.
After two weeks with him and still feeling this terrible emptiness, that's when the dread crept in. At first, it was dismissable but it quickly became overwhelming at a rate that was both alarming and confusing.
I knew I should not be feeling this way seeing as how it was my first relatively healthy relationship since, well, forever, but I couldn't help it. Try as I might to convince myself this was good and pretend to be happy, I couldn't stop that niggling feeling of discontent.
Snapping out of my thoughts I picked the call and tried to sound cheery to disguise the fact that all I wanted was to not be in my head for a little while.
“Hey,” I greeted. “What's up?”
“Hey you,” Timini's hoarse voice filled my car. “Guess what today is?”
I leaned back in my seat. “Today? I'm not really sure. Oh God, it's not your birthday, is it? I would hate myself if I missed your birthday.”
He chuckled. “Relax, ok? It's not my birthday, that's tomorrow.”
“Wait, seriously?” I paused in putting my shoes back on as I scanned all our previous conversations to find out if he'd told me when his birthday was.
Another chuckle came through my speakers. “I'm messing with you. My birthday is next month.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and found my chest not as tight as before. That was exactly what I loved about being around Timini, he always lightened the invisible load I always carried.
“You could've given me a heart attack, you know. I pride myself on giving the perfect birthday gifts and I'm not missing the opportunity to get you an ‘I'm a fungi’ mug.”
“I'm at the same time intrigued and terrified. No, don't worry, you'll get your chance. I was calling about something else. Today is exactly one month since your life was blessed with my fine ass.”
“Just one month? I never took you as the kind of guy that keeps count of such mundane things. I mean, I get a first anniversary but a month?”
“Um, of course, I keep count. Do you have any idea how many people started out in that time and never made it to today?”
“I guess but . . .”
“No buts, babe. It's a momentous occasion and we should celebrate.”
I rubbed my forehead as a headache began to form behind my eyes. Silence reigned inside the car as I tried to think up ways to get out of whatever celebration my boyfriend had planned.
“Unless you don't want to. If not, that's totally fine, it's not that important.”
I knew he was trying to hide it but I could still sense the disappointment in his voice. Even though I really did not feel like wasting my night on such a trivial milestone I found myself saying the exact opposite.
“No, no. It's fine, you're right. We should do something to celebrate.”
“Great, I was thinking dinner at my place. 10-ish? I'll cook.”