How can this kind of confusion about taxi instructions occur?
I continue my series of "not actually an answer but I got to say this":

The most valuable lesson you can learn from this is not figuring out afterwards what was said, but getting into a habit of always asking "Say again..." when you miss even a slightest part of a transmission. Ron stated it in the comments: no shame in that, not even a bit.

Whenever you allow yourself to guess the missing parts, you put yourself, and probably others in danger. Requesting repetition, every now and then you'll catch the grumpy controller that'll bitch at you for not paying attention, but never mind them. You don't want extra holes in your Swiss cheese.