The Other Side of Someday by T. K. Leigh

collar around his neck and hooked him up to his leash. Pausing briefly as I exited into the hallway, I stared at Sebby’s door. I probably looked like a stalker when I held my ear up to it, trying to hear any noise coming from within. I thought I knew who he was, but armed with the knowledge that we shared a hallway, it was almost like he was a completely different person. How was it possible I had never run into him before? Yes, he worked long hours, but surely I would have heard Gidget barking from inside his condo. Then again, based on the price of these places, they probably made sure to install soundproof walls and flooring.
    Feeling a tug on the leash, I snapped out of my thoughts and retreated from Sebby’s door, allowing Sport to drag me into the elevator, through the lobby, and across the street toward our usual morning destination.
    As I navigated down the pathway at a leisurely pace, the closer we got to the park bench, the more clammy my hands became. My heart rate picked up and nausea settled in my stomach. I didn’t know if it was from all the liquor I had consumed the night before or if it was the prospect of seeing Sebby. What if he was here but wasn’t expecting me to show up? What if he gave some thought to my intoxicated outburst and came to the conclusion that I was right? That men and women couldn’t just be friends. I never considered that he would want to end our “friendship”. Now, the notion unsettled me.
    Instead of being consumed by my thoughts, I should have been paying attention to Sport. He darted away from me and toward our park bench, jumping onto the dog he must have missed while her owner was out of town.
    “Reminds me of a certain day a few weeks ago,” that familiar deep voice commented. “Apart from the bloody nose, of course.”  
    “That can definitely be rectified if you’re into that kind of thing,” I joked, biting my lip. Shifting from foot to foot, I remained standing, feeling awkward. Sebby held a cup of coffee toward me, and I eyed it skeptically. He was acting as if nothing had changed. And maybe I was making a bigger deal out of it than it was. Maybe nothing had changed.
    Relaxing, I took the coffee from him and lowered myself onto the bench. I avoided his eyes, staring out over the ocean at what appeared to be storm clouds in the distance. A heavy silence settled between us and I didn’t know if I should be the first one to speak or not.
    “So…,” I started.
    “I didn’t…,” he said simultaneously. Our eyes met. It was obvious we were both uneasy about where our newfound knowledge left us. “You go first,” he prompted, always the gentleman.
    “Nah. I’m not sure what I was going to say anyway.”
    Drawing in a breath, he licked his lips, toying with the beverage sleeve on his coffee cup. “I was just going to say that I didn’t expect you to show up today.”
    “I almost didn’t,” I confessed.
    “Why?”
    “Is that your question for today?” I took a sip of my coffee.
    A small smile crossed his lips. “No. I have a good one planned and that’s not it. Call it me just wanting to clear the air.”
    “I thought we did that last night,” I remarked, although I knew that was the furthest thing from the truth.
    “You were pretty tipsy last night, Baylee. I want to see what sober Baylee has to say.”
    “What is there to say, Sebby?” I exhaled. “So what? The guy I unceremoniously gave a bloody nose to just so happens to be my mysterious absentee neighbor. Nothing’s changed.”
    “And what about your argument last night that men and women can never truly be friends?”
    “The jury’s still out on that one, I suppose,” I admitted truthfully.
    “Will you at least give me the chance to prove they can? I hate the thought of not being friends with you just because you don’t think it’s possible.”
    “You honestly think you can prove that to me?” I raised my eyebrows, unconvinced.
    “I sure do. When I’m through with you, the