On that Friday night, I found myself immersed in a deep exploration of diverse and intricate scenarios that could possibly explain the perplexing situation involving Carter and Karen. Karen, an exuberant soccer mom, whose son was also part of CJ's team, had been observed alongside Carter, engaging in the act of taking pictures together. The conundrum nagged at my thoughts, urging me to dissect the circumstances from every conceivable angle.
As I delved into my analysis, my mind painted a multitude of potential backstories. One such narrative unfolded like an unpredictable movie plot: perhaps Carter had coincidentally encountered Karen during a chance encounter. However, my imagination soon took a more dramatic turn, envisioning the possibility that Carter's motives might not be entirely innocent. Could it be that they were meeting clandestinely, driven by a mutual attraction and desire for an illicit liaison?
Another conjecture formed around the premise of a team meeting, where Carter and Karen's interaction could have been entirely professional. Yet, my mind couldn't resist stretching this scenario into the realm of absurdity, amusingly imagining them conspiring over a prearranged "pre-meeting" designed to cloak their hidden romantic entanglement.
The thought of CJ and Karen's son having a playmate together ignited yet another avenue of speculation. However, this line of reasoning, too, took a detour into the realm of melodrama, as I whimsically concocted a story in which Carter and Karen orchestrated a cunning ruse to camouflage their own rendezvous under the guise of a children's playmate.
The weight of my escalating paranoia and confusion led me to scour Karen's social media profiles for potential clues. As I sifted through her posts, my limited access provided only a tantalizing glimpse into her world. Tags linking her to Carter and numerous soccer-related articles were evident, but the picture remained incomplete, further intensifying my maelstrom of conjecture.
Frustration gripped me as my imagination spiraled into a whirlwind of questions. Had I been too hasty in dismissing the subtle touches and interactions between them? Were my assumptions about their platonic relationship misplaced? The tension between anxiety and curiosity continued to mount, driving me deeper into the labyrinth of potential explanations.
Exhausted and emotionally drained, I reluctantly tore myself away from my relentless analysis. The complexity of the situation weighed heavily on my mind, overshadowing every other thought. With a mix of trepidation and determination, I resolved to confront my own fears and uncertainties head-on. The impending meeting with Carter loomed before me, promising either solace or revelation.
Perhaps they crossed paths coincidentally… Perhaps he's randomly interested in her, too! Maybe there was a team meeting… Maybe it was a pre-hookup rendezvous! Possibly CJ and her son had a play date… Possibly, Carter and Karen are together!!! Damn it!
Feeling a sense of panic, I scoured Karen's Facebook page. Unfortunately, my access was limited since we weren't Facebook friends. I observed posts tagging Carter, a plethora of soccer-related content - which was unsurprising. The same held true for her Instagram account. Karen appeared to be the quintessential soccer mom at CJ's games. The most recent image she shared was the only one that wasn't directly related to the boys. I could only view their faces, unable to discern whether it was an intimate close-up or a selfie.
My mind roared! I swear, if she takes a damn selfie with him, I'll lose it!
The thought of every instance where I witnessed her touching him during soccer games churned my stomach. Why had I been so hasty in dismissing it as mere friendliness? Could it have been more intimate? Did he reciprocate? Dammit. I'd expended so much energy being upset with Roxanna that I hadn't even been attentive to this. I sprang to my feet and grabbed Leon's Crown. I downed a shot, then two more before returning to bed. The combined effects of the drinks and the day's stress eventually overpowered me, and I finally managed to drift off into sleep.
Early Saturday morning, a cocktail of nerves and a full bladder roused me from slumber. I desperately needed to discuss this with someone. But I wasn't quite desperate enough to awaken Roxanna and potentially trigger her temper. I knew she was working on her attitude, and I didn't want to push her back into negativity.
I quickly threw on jeans and a t-shirt and headed to Chick-fil-A. Armed with chicken biscuits and coffee, I embarked on a mission to find the one person I knew would listen and offer sound advice. I pounded on his door for a full minute until it reluctantly opened.
"Katy?" Josiah mumbled, squinting and rubbing his eyes in the early morning sunlight. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good. I brought breakfast," I said, motioning to the bags.
He looked momentarily bewildered. "Um, thanks, but if you're fine, I'll catch up with you later…"
I shook my head, determination in my gaze. "No, save the sleep for later. I need to talk to yo—"
"Josiah?" A woman's voice interrupted, halting my words in their tracks.
"Hang on a sec," he called back to her.
A sense of déjà vu engulfed me as I witnessed the unfolding scene before me. This wasn't my first time barging in on Josiah with a girl, and it probably wouldn't be the last. What caught me off guard was that I had no inkling he was currently dating anyone. He had never mentioned it, nor had he introduced her to me. Why keep this a secret? Shaking off my thoughts, I thrust the food into his hand.
"Apologies for the interruption," I murmured, making a hasty retreat down the stairs of his apartment.
"Katypad, wait. Are you sure you're alright?" Josiah's concern reached me.
"Absolutely fine. Nothing I can't handle. Later, T-Rev," I replied without turning around.
Had I not been so preoccupied by the images of Carter and Karen, I might have been equally alarmed by the presence of the new girl in Josiah's life. I would have been peppering him with questions about his feelings for her. Yet, my worries were currently centered around my own potential love life, overshadowing whatever was happening in Josiah's world.
My next destination was Caroline's place. This time, I dialed before knocking, not wanting to intrude on anyone's morning-after moment.
"Hello," Caroline's voice said through the phone.
"Hey. I've got a Carter emergency."
"Alright, spill."
"Can I come over?"
"Sure."
"Okay. I'm at your doorstep."
After a brief pause, Caroline opened the door, draped in nothing but a sheet.
"You could've put something on," I quipped as I stepped inside.
"What? Dress up while you're at the door, with a Carter emergency? Never," she retorted, her sarcasm in full force.
I brushed her comment aside. After she threw on some clothes, I displayed the saved images of Carter and Karen's interactions on Facebook.
Caroline settled onto the couch and began scrolling through the pictures. She focused on the one I had discovered the previous night and then probed me about their behavior at CJ's game. I explained it all in detail.
"Alright, she's definitely into him. Did he seem interested in her?" Caroline asked, her tone probing.
"I'm not sure…"
"Did he joke around with her? Touch her casually? Lean in while she speaks? Check her out?" Caroline inquired, seeking more specifics.
"I don't think so. They were just talking. Like a regular conversation; similar to how he talks to me," I responded.
Caroline released a sigh. "You're not giving me much to work with." My frustration with my own uncertainty grew.
"You know what? It might not even matter," Caroline declared.
"But it does matter! I'm meeting him on Sunday. What should I do?" I groaned, lifting my gaze to her.
"You've got two choices. First, you could act like you haven't seen anything. Proceed as planned and see if he still wants to meet up. In that case, their dynamic doesn't hold much significance."
This seemed nearly impossible. I couldn't simply ignore the constant interaction he had with another woman. Even if we did start dating, I would need to address their relationship status.
"And option two?" I prompted.
"Confront him and make a move," Caroline stated bluntly.
"What?" My shock was evident.
"Listen. He kissed you, right? At the very least, he's attracted to you. If he's not serious about her, then you're asserting your position. If he is, you're making him choose. Just make sure you're the better option," Caroline explained matter-of-factly.
"I can't do that. I want more than just physical intimacy, remember? Besides, Carter isn't the type to cheat. And if he is with her, I don't want to push him into that situation," I rationalized.
"This all began as a physical thing last time – make sure you solidify a stronger connection this time around. If he's dating her and still pursues something with you, he's already crossing those boundaries," Caroline pointed out. "At least it shows he prefers you, if that's any consolation."
Oddly, her perspective didn't provide me much comfort.
*****
Upon my return home, Leon was at work, and Roxanna was engrossed in television with her friend Peter in her room.
"Hey, just a quick question," I began, greeting them both. "Do you happen to know if Carter is dating anyone?"
"I already told you he wasn't," Roxanna replied.
"I know, but there was a picture on Facebook showing him with some soccer mom," I explained.
"There were also pictures of you and Josiah in Austin. Is there something brewing between you two?" Roxanna quirked an eyebrow at me.
"Absolutely not. Earlier today, I caught him with some girl," I sighed, feeling irritated. Why did it even matter?
"Strawberry blonde? Slightly taller than me?" Peter chimed in with a grin.
"I don't know. I didn't get a good look," I responded, my annoyance growing. Honestly, who cared?
"In any case, that just reinforces my point. Don't jump to conclusions based on appearances. They could just be good friends," Roxanna concluded.
As I folded my arms, she let out a sigh. "I'll keep my ears open, but remember, Leon and I aren't getting involved in this."
"Thanks, Roxanna," I muttered, my gratitude not entirely heartfelt.
"Katy, come join us and watch this," Roxanna suggested as I started to leave.
"Yes, join us for the premiere next weekend. Get caught up with the show," Peter added eagerly.
"Fine," I acquiesced, plopping down on the bed with them. Maybe immersing myself in the show would distract me from the Carter situation, our upcoming brunch, and the soccer mom who loved taking selfies.