He could be a professional athlete at this point.
Alice:
A viral TikTok runner.
Feeling slightly calmer, I decide to be the bigger person and send him a text:
Me:
For once, I am being unreasonable.
But it is coming from a place I did not create.
I am sorry for making you mad.
I don’t like the way you dealt with the situation, and it is sitting uncomfortably with me.
I share my text with Alice.
Alice:
Girl, stop apologizing for him being annoying.
Me:
I brought it up out of nowhere, to be fair.
Omg, am I being an apologist for real?
Alice:
Was it out of nowhere, or were you finally fed up?
Me:
Maybe. I’m not sure.
But if someone is annoying 50 times and I am annoying once, I feel like owning the 1 makes the 50 shine more clearly
Alice:
Yes, but to rational people.
All he’ll see is you admitting you’re wrong.
When Timmy returns, he insists he gave me one of the apartment fobs earlier—the one with the carabiner clip—which I know he didn’t. He always uses it to attach to his board shorts when he swims.
The argument spirals quickly.
“My ex was verbally abusive!” he screams. “Just like you are! She would start fights so I would leave, so she could cheat on me with young guys!”
“Well, I’m not your ex,” I snap. “So stop treating me like I am.”
“You will be soon!” Timmy screams. Moments later, he storms out again, slamming the door.
Me:
Sigh.