I had the strangest thought pop into my head. I was about to do something that I might regret later. It was going to be a whole new level of crazy for me. But the old folks used to say, it takes one to know one….and at the moment―that may be true. Whether I was pretending to be a spy or just being nosy, nothing deterred me from changing my mind.
The next morning, I called in at the community center, then I took a bus over to the coffee café. You may be wondering what I have planned; well, it's not to make amends or to have a heart-to-heart talk with him. My plan? Wait for Allen to show up and then hitch a ride with him―in his truck. Yes, I'm about to do to him what I had accused him of doing to me.
When the bus pulled up to the café, a short line of customers was forming outside. It was one of those chilly mornings where the wind had a bite and nipped at my skin. Thankfully, I had bundled up for my little adventure. I made my way to the parking lot, keeping an eye out for Allen and making sure I was not spotted by any of the employees. The last thing I needed was for someone to see me and report it to Ms. Anderson.
I wandered around the parking lot, searching for unlocked cars and hoping no security cameras were tracking my every move. I found a car that was unlocked and still warm inside. I quickly opened the door and slid into the seat, with fingers crossed that the owner wouldn't be coming out anytime soon. I stayed low and kept my eyes peeled for Allen.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally arrived with the young woman by his side. He was the picture of the perfect gentleman―opening her door and wrapping his arm around her shoulder like he was shielding her from the cold. They walked right into the café together, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
I know it sounds weird, maybe even insane, but isn't it funny how something can catch your attention negatively and at the same time stir up feelings, even when it's toxic?
Once the coast was clear, I slipped out of the car I'd been hiding in and made my way over to Allen's vehicle. I went around to the passenger side and found it unlocked. I opened the door and popped the trunk open. Crouching down, I crept to the back of the car.
I glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and then I crawled into the trunk to hide, waiting for them to return. It was a bit stuffy in there, but I could feel the breeze on my face through the keyhole. An hour and a half later, I heard their voices and Allen's laughter as they approached the car.
After a short drive, I heard the sound of doors opening and closing; I peered out cautiously. They had stopped at a grocery store! Panic set in for a moment―what if they put the bags in the trunk? My heart was racing, but to my relief, they tossed the bags onto the back seats instead.
There was a brief conversation, and then the car started moving again. I could feel my nerves settling when I noticed we were on our way to his house. I braced myself for what seemed like a 30 to 40-minute ride, then the car came to a stop. The sound of bags rustling told me we had made it safely there, as they grabbed the bags of groceries; I emerged from my little hideaway.