When I got home, Mike wasn't there yet. I wondered where he was but I didn't think much of it. I went to the kitchen and put on the kettle. Then, I tapped the button on the answering machine to hear the messages. One new message. 'Hi, it's Tom. I had a really great time last night Abby and I just wanted to let you know that I'm very excited about our new relationship. Thanks.' End of message. I let the kettle finish boiling and as it finished, something clicked. Oh my God, what if Mike had heard that message 'great time', 'relationship'… oh shit. I whipped out my phone and jabbed in his number. No answer. I called Joy, who picked up on the third ring.

'Hey Abby, what's up?' her voice sing-songed down the phone.

'Have you seen Mike?' I asked, panic edging into my voice.

'No why? Is something wrong?' I hung up without giving any explanation.

As I paced around the living room, the house phone rang, it showed Colin's number.

'Hey, Abby.' He said his voice soft and calm.

'Colin, what is it? You haven't seen Mike have you?' God, he was going to think I was insane.

'Yea I've seen him. He's lying on my couch.'

'I'll be there in 30 seconds.'

I dropped the phone and barrelled out the front door, crossed the courtyard and knocked on Colin's door. He answered quickly and ushered me into the kitchen.

'He's not in a great place right now.' Colin remarked, way to point out the obvious.

'I know, there's been a misunderstanding.' I stated blankly.

'He says you're cheating on him.' Oh God, it's true. He heard the message.

'I would never cheat on him.' I said, a hurt tone tinting my voice.

'OK, OK.' He put up his hands in mock surrender and led me to the living room.

There he was, laid out on the couch with his back to me. I thanked Colin and dropped my bag. I perched on the edge of the sofa and put my hand to Mike's shoulder. He quickly pulled it away from me and sat up on the couch. 'Go away.' He said, meeting my gaze and showing me the true depth of his hatred for me at this moment. 'No.' I responded bluntly trying very hard to show the hurt in my voice, he often missed any subtlety I attempted. 'You knew,' he began, shaking his head, 'I told you about why I was the way I was and I thought that meant you weren't going to add to it. I was wrong. You are as much, if not more, of a bitch than those other girls. I felt it bad for you, but I guess you and Tom were just meant-to-be.' His words dripped with hatred and I had to stop him, he couldn't possibly think I'd do that. Could he really believe I was that evil?

'I didn't cheat on you.' I stated, his eyes met mine again.

'I heard the voicemail. You can't pretend anymore.'

'Tom,' he rolled his eyes, but I had to go on, 'Tom is our new weather man, I took him out to dinner last night to talk over his roll. It appears the jackass thought I was flirting. But I wasn't. I love you, not some overweight news guy. Baby, it's my job, I'm sorry.' I tried again to touch him, this time he let my hand linger on his shoulder for a moment until he looked up and smiled.

'A weather guy,' He shook his head, 'you told me about that dinner last week.' He laughed to himself. But not in a happy, relieved sense. I shuffled closer to him and pulled him forward into a hug. I played with the hair at the top of his neck and stroked his back with the other hand. He closed his arms around me and began to mutter 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.' I hushed him and we sat like that, on Colin's couch, for what seemed like a lifetime.