Part Three

Cat is disappointed when Nick only sends two messages a day, and although she knows this is silly she can't stop her feelings. Of course he has other things to do, what kind of loser sits around emailing all day when he could be outside enjoying the weather. She looks out the window across from her cube and sees people walking in the park outside. She checks her watch and goes to collect Mark. They grab lunch and find a seat in the park.

“So Kitty Cat,” Mark starts, “what are you wearing tomorrow night?” It was their annual Welcome to Summer party at Mark’s apartment and she was expected to wear something fabulous. Cat didn’t really feel like a party at the moment, but she knew that would change.

“I’ve got a new dress, or maybe some shorts.” She takes a bite of her salad.

“Shorts?” Mark asks with a disapproving look on his face.

“Short shorts,” she says with a mouth full of lettuce and they burst into laughter. It is a stupid joke, but once she starts laughing she can't stop and Mark's snorting makes it even easier to giggle. She rolls back into the grass and laughs until her stomach hurt. Other people in the park turn to see what was wrong with them but Cat and Mark just keep laughing. When they walk back into the office she can still feel the sun on her skin and she isn’t sorry to be at work, for once. Cat loves her job, she loves the work, but she hates the politics. She doesn’t know how to make it in her office without the politics. She sits down at her desk ready to tackle the stack of messages when she feels a tap on her shoulder. She turns around to see Mary standing behind her.

“Oh, hello, Mary,” she rises to greet her.

“Hello, Ms. Green.” Cat can barely control her growing smile. Mary’s never addressed her by her name, without prompting, before.

“How can I help you,” Cat asks eager to please her.

“Do you ride,” Mary asks.

“Horses,” Cat’s confused. Mary nods.

“No, no I haven’t ridden since I was a little girl.” Cat shakes her head.

“I would have guessed differently,” Mary says. Cat wonders if it’s her clothes or if she simply carries herself like a horseback rider. She takes it as a compliment and is about to respond when Mary said, “You look like you’ve just crawled out of a barn.” Mary disappears down the long hall and Cat reaches up to feel the grass that is stuck to the back of her dress. She puts her face in her hands as she sinks into her seat.

You’ll never guess what just happened to me.

As she waits for Nick’s response she begins to return the phone messages on her desk. After speaking with three of her favorite clients Mary’s sharp comments slide further down her back until only faint traces of their sting remain. When Mark waves goodnight she can’t believe the day is over. Finally the weekend. It isn’t until she gets home that she realizes Nick never wrote her back. She drops her bags in the hallway and quickly turns on the computer. Nothing.

“Oh my god! Who sleeps that much,” she shouts at the ceiling. The snoring starts again. She stomps her feet and closes the computer. Cat puts on her running shorts and jumps outside the front door. A breeze picks up by the river and she moves quickly past the piers. A large sailboat passes her and she’s jealous of the passengers. She wonders what wonderful weekend they have planned. She passes people walking their dogs and she notices a small golden puppy that playfully nips at his owners heels. The sun and wind mix in the air to create a perfect temperature. She is content. As she rounds a corner a few blocks from her apartment she slows to a jog. An hour in the sun has done her good and she’s ready for the weekend. She stops in the small bodega on her corner for a large cold bottle of water. She greedily drinks as she walks toward her building. In the corner of her eye she sees a man close behind her. She thinks she can feel his steps moving close. She moves out of the way and lets him pass. He looks perfectly harmless, his floppy brown hair wet with sweat and his ears plugged with music. He smiles at her, but she does not respond.

She stops to drink more water and she sees the man run up her stoop. Her heart begins to pound. She’s never seen him before. She wonders if she should return to the bodega and wait, but decides she’s being silly and proceeds to her building. He’s in the lobby by the mailboxes as she begins up the stairs.

“Beautiful day for a run,” he says as she’s halfway up the first flight. She stops.

“Sure is,” she waits for a reply. He says nothing. She can hear the music from his ear phones. When she reaches the second floor she turns to the door of her apartment. His footsteps are approaching.

“Hey,” he says, “I’m right above you.”

She turns to face him. “Hmm,’ she says as a way of agreeing and nods her head.

“I’m Dave,” he wipes his sweaty hand on his shorts before offering it to her.

“Cat,” she says.

“I hope I’m not too loud,” he laughs nervously, “I just moved in a couple of months ago. I got transferred out here from Chicago.”

She can tell he wants to talk but she’s not in the mood. She wants to get in the shower and check if Nick’s written back.

“Well, nice to meet you,” she says as the key turns in her lock.

“Ok, see you around,” he says walking away but still facing her.

She shuts the door and walks quickly to the computer. She plays a game with herself, if I don’t look he’ll write, if I look he won’t write, she walks away from the machine and into the kitchen before rushing back to the sofa. She throws the computer open and logs in.

The snoring starts again. Cat looks up from the computer. “What the…” she mouths and looks around her apartment. “Am I on candid camera? Didn’t that man just get home from a run?”

Her phone rings.

“Hello,” she answers.

“Hey sweetie,” Hallie says.

“Oh hey Hals. How are you?” Cat tries to balance the phone on her shoulder while she searches through Nick’s last messages. Nothing new. She starts to wonder if she said something to offend him.