"Honey, I left my phone at Liz's last night. Please send her a text to tell her I'll be over to pick it up."
"What's her number?"
"I don't know. It's on my phone."
"That doesn't help much."
"Call my phone and maybe she'll pick up."
"Sure," I said.
"What do you want for dinner tonight?"
"I don't know. Surprise me."
I called Stephanie's phone but Liz didn't answer. So I sent a text explaining the situation. All I could do was hope Liz would see it.
A few minutes later, Liz replied. "Sure, no problem, I'll be home all day."
"Excellent," I replied. "Thanks for last night."
Liz was a friend of Stephanie's. I had known her for a few years, but only as a friend of my girlfriend. We had never really talked, partly because I found Liz very attractive and an attractive friend of a girlfriend is tricky territory. I wanted her to like me but I didn't want to flirt, at least not in a way that would give Stephanie concern.
"Thanks for coming over. I like seeing you guys."
"We had a great time."
"You're the first boyfriend of Stephanie's that I've liked. I'm glad."
Liz liked me. I couldn't stop turning that thought over in my mind. I liked Liz. Reciprocation is cool.
A few hours passed. Someone sent me a text.
"You looked great last night. Made me crazy."
When I say someone sent me a text, I mean Stephanie's phone sent me a text. I assumed Liz sent it. In an excited rush, I responded.
"You always get me hot"
A few seconds after I pushed the send, I suddenly realized that Stephanie could have messaged me. I didn't know when she was going over to Liz's. Maybe she picked up the phone. Maybe she didn't. My first thought was to ask. I started to type in the message - "Is that you Stephanie?" Then I realized that I couldn't. She would have replied "Is someone else getting you hot?" That was a bad path. I deleted the text and thanked my lucky stars. That single stupid text could have spelled the end of everything.
I didn't know who I was talking to. How could I find out without tipping my hand?
"That would explain the big bulge in your pants."
"Thanks for noticing."
"Couldn't help but notice."
"I could sure use a taste."