Page 74 of The Complication

The only thing missing from the collection were pictures that included Parker. That would have made them perfect.

Me: She’s adorable.

Me: Would it be okay if I used the sleeping picture as the background for my phone?

Parker: LOL. Yes, of course it would be okay.

Parker: Shit. Gotta go pick up Little Miss. TTYL.

Me: Miss You. [No. No. Delete that.] I love you and miss you both so much that I can’t sleep at night. [No. Delete. Delete. Delete.] Please come home. The house is a silent prison without you. [No. Now I’m becoming dramatic. This is what I get for talking to Rome. Delete. Delete.] Be careful.

Parker: [Sent picture of Joy and Parker]

The selfie appearedas if he’d taken it at the daycare. Joy was grinning big enough to reveal that she now had two bottom teeth.

Okay, now that one was my lock screen on my phone and the other bedtime photo was the background on the home screen for my phone.

Later that night…

Me: Would you be able to go over the potato recipe for Chef Donovan?

Parker: Huh? What potato recipe?

Me: Those potatoes you made that night you cooked for us. Chef Donovan made them tonight for dinner. They were not as good as yours.

Parker: [Long string of laughing emojis] ??????????????

Parker: You’re ridiculous.

Me: I’m very serious. Your potatoes are better. Can you message or email him?

Parker: Absolutely not. He’s a professional chef. I’m a hack. If I try to give him cooking advice, he’ll have a fit. He’ll quit.

Me: Your potatoes are still better.

Parker: Go to bed. It’s late and you need sleep.

I almost typed that I also slept better when he was in my bed, but I was afraid I was pushing my luck.

Next day…

Me: Could you help me with something?

Parker: What’s up?

Every time Parker answered within a couple of minutes of my text, my hopes inched up another notch. If I could keep him talking to me, reminding him of how good we were together, he might give me another shot.

Me: I need help selecting a tie.

Parker: Why aren’t you at work? It’s after nine. Your minions have got to be freaking out. Mrs. Turner can’t hold them back for long.

Me: I’m at work already.

I sent him two selfies I’d taken earlier that morning. These were the best of the three dozen pictures I’d taken. In one, I was wearing a silver-and-blue striped tie. The other was black with hints of burgundy and gold. I knew he liked both because he’d commented on them when I’d only been seeing him for sex.

Parker: Oooooh…my favorites. Big meeting today?

Me: Board meeting.