Unknown: Hi this is Ryan. I’ve heard so much about you. Hope its ok I texted
Ryan? Did she know a Ryan? Oh wait, her mom mentioned earlier today she’d given Elissa’s number to her friend’s son so they could arrange a date. This must be him.
And Jules, being Jules, had run with it. She’d answered for Elissa, knowing if she’d left it up to her friend, the poor guy would be waiting a while for a reply. Elissa had a tendency to overthink everything. She even had a shirt to prove it.
E: Hi, Ryan. I’ve heard so much about you, too. Glad you messaged me.
The little thinking bubble appeared.
“So, who’s Ryan?”
“None of your business.” Elissa’s face heated, and she tried to keep the phone facing away from Jules.
“I don’t think I’ve seen your face so red since you got sunburned after falling asleep next to the pool senior year. You know you’re going to tell me, eventually. Why not get it over with now?”
The phone buzzed in her hand, and before she could stop Jules, her friend grabbed it from her. She stood and held the phone high over her head, keeping it out of Elissa’s reach.
“Give me my phone, Jules.” Trying to reclaim it would be an exercise in futility.
“What, so you can go to your room, alone and unhappy? Not happening, lady. It’s about time you put yourself first.” Jules tapped, hit send, then handed the phone to her. “There. You’re committed now. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I hate you.”
“No you don’t.” Her friend settled back down on the couch and lifted her wineglass. Elissa read the messages.
Unknown: I don’t mind getting to know you over text but would you be up for meeting in person?
E: Yes, that would be lovely.
Elissa had been half afraid Jules would send something inappropriate as she had many times in the past, but this was a nice, basic exchange of information. And Jules had written the texts like Elissa would have, all the punctuation in the right place. Just because it was informal writing didn’t mean she could simply forget proper English grammar. They’d been texting each other for the last decade, so Jules knew better than anyone how much of a grammar snob Elissa could be.
“Ryan is the son of one of Mom’s friends. I told her she could set me up on a date before tax season. She didn’t waste any time.” Elissa gave in to the inevitable. Jules was right—she would find out one way or another.
“I’ve got your back, Lissa. What better way to start the new year? A new guy in your life after the rat-bastard.”
Yep, inappropriate. But appreciated.
The phone buzzed once more.
Unknown: Anytime, anyplace. LMK
Now what did she say? Elissa had never been particularly adept at flirting, and her attempts over text were even worse. She handed the phone to Jules.
“I can’t, Jules. What if I totally geek out on him? What if I use the wrong emoji?”
“Fine. What do you want me to say?”
“Just pretend you’re me, but…” She waved her hands around wildly. “But less cringe.”
Jules’s fingers flew over the screen. After a short pause to read what she’d written, her friend hit send and gave the phone back.
E: Would you like to meet for drinks on Tuesday after work?
“See, it’s not that hard,” Jules said with a smile. “I even added him to your contacts.”
Her friend was right, it wasn’t that hard, but she was out of practice.
R: Sounds perfect. When and where?
