I clicked the cancel button without hesitation. The website asked if I was sure about the cancellation, and I confirmed it calmly before sending a text message to my college friend Marco, who happened to work in hospitality connections around the city.
“Marco, I just canceled Dylan’s birthday dinner reservation at Blue Harbor Table. Can you keep that table open for the fifteenth because I might still want it,” I wrote.
Marco replied quickly with curiosity and concern, yet I simply answered that everything would make sense soon.
Over the next several days Dylan behaved exactly the same as always while talking endlessly about his upcoming birthday dinner. He asked repeatedly if I had confirmed the reservation and reminded me to tell the restaurant staff that it was a birthday celebration. Each time I smiled politely and reassured him that everything was arranged exactly as he wanted.