Short Story: Be Careful How You Say You Were Not There

She said, “I met you at Mark and Ali’s house”, and you said, “I don’t think so”. So, with very much a case of too much enthusiasm indeed, she said, “Mark. And. Alison. Taylor!” Like that cheerleading enunciation would suddenly take you right back. But you stood firm, didn’t travel anywhere in fact. And said, “nah, not me, I don’t know those people”. She…