“Well, I run every morning. If you ever want to run with me, I wouldn’t mind having a partner.” Bette was smiling again and Tina smiled back weakly, hoping she looked friendly and not like her heart was hurting the way it was.

“I don’t think I can,” she said, forcing the words out. “I don’t run anymore.”

“Oh. Well, that’s alright. I just thought I’d ask. I… I guess I’ll be seeing you,” she added. Then she was gone, and Tina was shutting the door and leaning against it.

“Why would she even ask me that?” Tina wondered aloud. Whatever. She had said no and that was that.

Tina moped through the rest of her day, wondering if she’d put Bette and any chance at a future friendship down the line – when she could function like an actual person – off for good.

*****

Later that evening, with unhappy thoughts still rolling around in her mind, Tina sat down to dinner with Eric.

“Bette came over today.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. She was returning the dish. The casserole dish. She asked me to go jogging with her,” Tina said. “Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”

Eric kept his eyes on his plate as he replied. “What makes you say that? Seems like it could be a good idea.”

“I don’t know. It just seems weird that she would ask me that. How would she know that I used to run? Or that I’m in that kind of shape?”

“Why make a big thing out of it? She’s just being neighborly.”

“Eric. That’s not the kind of question you ask a complete stranger. Especially another woman. Unless you knew that she used to work out. It’s rude – it comes off as an implication that she needs to exercise.”

Eric set his knife down forcefully. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he muttered.

Tina watched him as he gulped at his wine and noticed the flush rising up his neck.

“You told her I used to run, didn’t you? When you went over there the other day. You told her to ask me.” It wasn’t a question, really. Tina already knew the answer. Eric rarely got upset about anything and his behavior betrayed his guilt.