"We have to talk," he said, as they glided around the dance floor.
"About what?"
"You know," he whispered against her hair.
"No, I don't," she said, flustered and feeling as if the room were closing in on her. His voice sounded familiar, but she could not place it. Then as if struck by lightning, she remembered the phone call from yesterday mentioning a meeting today and a message being delivered. "Are you the person I'm supposed to meet?" she asked. When he didn't answer she said, "Who are you and why are you here?" Panic encompassed her voice. He mumbled something and then left, as if he had been an illusion. Confused and impacted by the moment, she remained on the dance floor until someone shook her back into reality.
"Who was that?" Garrett asked.
Caitlin looked at Garrett, but stared right through him. His words never registered with her.
"Who was the man you were dancing with?" he asked again.
"So he was here?" she muttered. Caitlin continued to stare into space, never blinking, almost as if she were in a dream. She knew Garrett spoke to her, but his voice sounded like an echo.
"What is going on?" he said, leading her off the dance floor and into a corner of the room. She returned to reality and now looked at Garrett as if seeing him for the first time this evening.
"What happened?" she asked. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked tucking strands of hair behind her ears.
Garrett took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Who were you dancing with? What does he want?"
Caitlin licked her lips and then swallowed. She replayed the mumbled message, but it made no more sense now than it did a few minutes ago. "I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?" Garrett's voice raised in anger, as if he were scolding Caitlin. He stepped back while exhaling. "Did he say anything?" he said, in a calmer tone.
"He mentioned tomorrow, but I don't know what that means."
Garrett kept talking as Caitlin surveyed the room hoping to see him again. She did not want to see him, not really, but she needed to know what he meant. Would he find her tomorrow? Why? Her eyes widened with an idea. Perhaps he was the messenger. All Caitlin knew for sure was this was getting crazier by the minute.
"Fine," Garrett said, as he loosened his tie and undid the top button. "You aren't listening anyway." He turned to walk away when Caitlin grabbed his arm.