By John Leatherman
At the same two-seater table where I’d fallen in love with him three years ago, Brad pleaded with me over his turkey-tomato wrap. “Julia, I know you broke up with me because I never put your feelings first. That was wrong, and I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
Though relishing his burst of humility, I hesitated. “I don’t know, Brad. This is all so sudden.” The breakup was three days ago, even though it felt like months.
“Yes, but I’ve completely changed. Just let me prove it to you.” He glanced around the food court, crowded with Saturday-afternoon mallgoers. “Can we talk at my place?”
Theoretically, we can. Historically, not so much. “Here is fine.”
“Yes, but my car is close.”
Bravo, Mr. Completely Changed. “What about my car?”
“Well, I could bring you back here after… uh…” He faltered. “Or you could go to your car and follow me.”
“Or I could go to my car and go home. I’m not going back to your place until I know you’ve really changed.”
Brad pounded the table. “Hey, you know who’s not scared of my place? Gabrielle! In fact, she’s begging to move in!”
He’d always sworn he and Gabrielle—or Gab-Rapunzel, as I called his abrasive, long-haired brunette bowling league partner—were “just friends,” but I wasn’t having that argument. I hate clichés.
Frowning, I folded my arms. “So that’s where you went this morning.”
Brad scowled. “Wait, you spied on me?”
I squirmed. I hadn’t been spying, but we couldn’t get into that.
His expression twisted into a wicked smile. “You want me back that much, huh?”
“You wish.” I tossed my crumpled napkin onto the remains of my lunch. “Have fun unclogging your shower drain.”
I trudged to the video arcade and resumed beating my own high score on Time Terrorists until the mall closed.
***
“Good morning, Eastville! It’s Saturday, March 31, here on ZAP 95 FM!”
Rolling from bed, I smiled at my clock radio. “That’s what you think.”
March 31 had repeated almost two hundred times, but I was the only one aware. Every morning was a total reset except for my memories. If I’d kept an accurate tally in my mind, today was approximately September 1.
I didn’t know why this was happening, but it gave me a unique opportunity. I had broken up with Brad on Thursday, March 29—but tactically, hoping he’d realize he’d become selfish. When Saturday first started repeating, I went to Brad in the morning, hoping to extract an apology—but he’d always brush me off, eager to go somewhere.
See? Not spying.
Eventually, I learned if I waited until the afternoon, Brad would find me and apologize. Of course, that was only after Gabrielle got clingy. He could pretend to act unselfish to avoid something he hated even more—commitment.
Now that I understood his motives, reliving this lousy day might actually be fun.
This time, after Brad asked, “Can we talk at my place?” I gave a different reply.
“Sure.” Grinning, I reached for my purse. “In fact, I’ll drive.” I rose from the table. “I’m in the north parking garage.”
“But my car is right…” He stifled himself. “Um, I mean, let’s go.”
I led him along the route I’d planned earlier. As we passed Heaven-Essence Day Spa, I stopped with a performatively joyful shriek, pretending to notice it for the first time.
I clutched his hand. “Oh, Brad, before we go, let’s get a couple’s massage!”
He continued a few steps, almost pulling me. “But I thought we were…”
“You want to show you’ve changed, don’t you? I always said we should do this, but you never would.” Gazing into his eyes, I squeezed his hand tighter. “Besides, it would be so relaxing.”
His brow furrowed. Through his silence, I could almost hear the little rat banging around in the maze of his mind, struggling to decide which route had better cheese at the end—endure one hour of New Age and incense, or give Medusa her own key?
Finally, he smiled. “All right.”
No doubt he noticed the small print on their marquee: All-female Staff.
We entered a lobby walled with pastoral murals. Ethereal harp and vocal melodies played over the trickling of a faux rock fountain. From a desk resembling a giant hunk of driftwood, receptionist Nina welcomed us.
She checked her computer. “Sorry, no couples’ slots left today, but I’ve got two single rooms, and Tanya and Vicki are ready. I’ll even give you the couples’ rate.”
As two young, blonde, athletic masseuses emerged from the hallway, Brad produced his credit card and grinned. “Hey, at least we’ll experience it at the same time.”
I nodded. “Definitely.”
We signed waivers, and Brad swaggered toward Room 1 to undress, humming to the ambient music.
Vicki nudged me. “So, Julia, you finally brought him?”
“Yes, and he’ll need your special extra-deep tissue treatment.”
Vicki winced. “For his first massage?”
I nodded. “He’s carrying lots of tension. Very conflicted.” Slipping her a twenty, I winked. “And don’t worry about hurting him. He’ll thank you tomorrow.” If that ever comes.
She grinned. “Gotcha. The ceiling bars are reinforced for extra back-walks.”
Undressing in Room 2, I heard Vicki opening Brad’s door through the thin wall. I lay on the table under the sheet and waited for the groans to begin.
A knock came at my door.
“I’m ready, Tanya.”
A skinny, bespectacled young man with dark hair and a white lab coat crept in. “Sorry, Tanya’s unavailable.”
I blinked in disbelief. “Peter?” I needed a moment to recognize my coworker from Quantum Particle Research. Though I’d just seen him yesterday, that was effectively six months ago. “What are you doing here?”
“You’ve been reliving this day, haven’t you?”
I gasped. “How do you know that?”
“I’ll explain in the car. Get dressed.” He took off his glasses, covered his eyes, and faced away. “We’ve got two loops left to fix the space-time continuum!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Can’t wait to see what happens next!
I make every piece self-contained, but I’m glad you’re following the story!
let’s get those continuum repairs underway!
Typical woman. Spending her space-time loops trying to fix a relationship rather than fixing the dang continuum!
An unfortunate, yet probably accurate, summation. XD
A continuum conundrum. Thanks for the story.
But what happens next!?! Intriguing story
What Happens Next?!
I like the twist! And the countdown of two loops in intriguing! I hope you’ve got more up your sleeve!