Sydney: Okay. Sorry to bother you.
Me: Wait. What about tonight? Are you still having a birthday party?
Sydney: I don’t know. Hunter says he’s taking me out to eat as soon as I get home from work, but I sort of thought it was a lie. I know he and Tori had lunch together a couple of weeks ago, but they don’t know I know. They were obviously planning something, and I assumed it was a surprise party, but tonight’s the only night that could happen.
I wince. She actually caught them in a lie, and she thought they were together because they were planning something nice for her. Christ. I don’t even know the guy, and I have a huge urge to walk over there and beat the shit out of him.
It’s her birthday. I can’t tell her on her birthday. I take a deep breath, then decide to text Maggie for advice.
Me: Question. You busy?
Maggie: Nope. Shoot.
Me: If it was your birthday and someone you knew found out I was cheating on you, would you want to know right then? Or would you hope that person would wait to tell you until it was no longer your birthday?
Maggie: If this is a hypothetical question, I’m going to kill you for this heart attack. If it’s not hypothetical, I’m going to kill you for this heart attack.
Me: You know it’s not me. It’s not your birthday. ;）
Maggie: Who’s cheating on whom?
Me: It’s Sydney’s birthday today. The girl I was telling you about who writes the lyrics. I happen to know her boyfriend is cheating on her, and I’m kind of in a position where I should tell her because she’s becoming suspicious.
Maggie: Jesus. I’d hate to be you right now. But if she’s suspicious and you know for a fact that he’s cheating, you need to tell her, Ridge. If you don’t say anything, you’re inadvertently lying.
Me: Ugh! That’s what I thought you’d say.
Maggie: Good luck. I’m still going to kill you for the heart attack next weekend.
I sit on the bed, then start a text to Sydney.
Me: I’m not sure how to say this, Sydney. You’re not driving right now, are you?
Sydney: Oh, jeez. There are people there, aren’t there? Lots of them?
Me: No, there isn’t anyone there but the two of them. First, I need to apologize for not telling you this sooner. I didn’t know how, because we don’t know each other that well. Second, I’m sorry for doing it on your birthday, of all days, but I feel like an ass for even waiting this long. And third, I’m sorry you have to find out via text, but I don’t want you to have to walk back into your apartment without knowing the truth first.
Sydney: You’re scaring me, Ridge.
Me: I’m just going to rip the Band-Aid off, okay? Something has been going on between your roommate and your boyfriend for a while.
I hit send and close my eyes, knowing I’m completely ruining her birthday. If not pretty much every day after today, too.
Sydney: Ridge, they’ve been friends for longer than I’ve even known Hunter. I think you’ve misinterpreted everything.
Me: If sticking your tongue down someone’s throat while straddling him is friendship, then I’m sorry. But I’m positive I’m not misinterpreting anything. It’s been going on for weeks. I’m assuming they come out to the patio while you’re in the shower, because they’re never out there long. But it happens a lot.
Sydney: If you’re being honest, why didn’t you tell me when we first started talking?
Me: How does one comfortably say this to another person, Sydney? When is there ever an appropriate time? I’m telling you now because you’re becoming suspicious, and it’s as appropriate a time as it can be.