<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My phone chimes as an offer pops up on my food delivery app. I click \u201caccept\u201d and head for Penny\u2019s Pizza. A few minutes later I pull into the parking lot and look for a space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My breath catches when I see it. Her Mercedes. Parked right in front by the door. With the personalized DEARMOM plates. Unmistakeable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I park across the lot, opposite her car. My heart pounds. My head swims. The Jeep cabin shrinks around me, squeezing the air from my lungs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can\u2019t go in there. I can\u2019t face her. What to do? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unassign the order? I don\u2019t want to do that. It\u2019s a good-paying order. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wait for her to leave? I don\u2019t know how long it will be. A few minutes, fine. Any longer, no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suck it up and go into the store?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, I can\u2019t. I\u2019m not a coward, but I\u2019m not an idiot either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I gaze at her car, then beyond to the large storefront windows. I can\u2019t see her through the tint. If she\u2019s getting pizza, it shouldn\u2019t be too long, right?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s 1:41 p.m. The app says pickup time is 1:52 and delivery time 2:03. I have a few minutes. I turn on K-Roc, my favorite classic hits station, and wait. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Steve Miller song ends, and Van Halen begins the intro to \u201cI\u2019ll Wait.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perfect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Lee Roth\u2019s raspy voice fills the air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lyrics don\u2019t match my situation. I don\u2019t want to see her; I want to see her go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I glance at my watch. 1:49 p.m. DEARMOM is still parked there, and she is nowhere in sight. Come on now! How long does pizza take anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ll give her three more minutes. If she\u2019s still here, I have to make a tough choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll Wait\u201d fades and a new song starts with clanging guitars and punchy drums. The Clash, \u201cShould I Stay or Should I Go.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No way! What are you trying to tell me, God? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
God has nothing to do with this. This is my problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1:51 p.m. I pick up my phone and press the little \u201cunassign\u201d bubble on the app. A message pops up. \u201cAre you sure you want to unassign? This will affect your metrics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I press \u201cYes\u201d and exhale. Done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I back out of my space and drive by her car toward the exit. Still no sign of her. No worries, I\u2019m moving on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
About forty-five minutes later, after delivering two orders, I drive by Penny\u2019s Pizza on my way to Taco Tempo. The Mercedes is still there, in the same space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How could she still be waiting for pizza? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wait. As I pass, something catches my eye. The store next door. I hadn\u2019t noticed it before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheri\u2019s Hair and Nails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am an idiot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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