Nothing.
Nothing came to mind.
Bzzzz.
I jumped in my chair, my phone buzzing in the drawer of my desk. I’d become accustomed to keeping the buzzer on loud but no one had contacted me in a few days. I’d been the one to reach out to my mom and besides her, I only saw the guys at work and then went home alone.
I pulled the phone out and looked down to see Melanie’s name on the screen. I opened the text and sat there reading it over and over again, not sure where this conversation might head.
Melanie:Hey.
Jack:Hey.
Smooth.
I let the phone rest in my hand, closing my eyes one more time. I could try to work while talking to Melanie. Maybe I could use a couple in the teaser and choose something sweeter rather than sexy. The book was heavy on the sex but this font screamed cute and fun, rather than down and dirty.
Melanie:How are you?
Jack:So, we’re doing small talk now?
Melanie:Is it wrong for me to ask how you are doing?
Jack:Do you care to know how I am doing?
Attitude was radiating in our messages to each other. I loved and hated it all at the same time. As much as I didn’t want to sound like an asshole to her, small talk was not what I needed right now. I needed to know what Melanie was thinking and what she wanted out of all of this. I needed more than her asking how I was doing.
Melanie:Jack. I care.
Jack:What is it you need this time, Melanie?
I winced as I sent the message. It was a jab at her calling me last week for Amelia’s show at school, but it was too late to take back the response.
Melanie:I don’t need anything, Jack.
Jack:Then what is it you want?
My last response was snippy, but it added to the question of, what did Melanie want? I wanted to know, that way I could give it to her, but I didn’t want her beating around the bush like she was.
I put the phone on my desk, trying to rework the graphic I had on the screen. I changed out the photo and found a new quote to put on it. I typed out what I wanted on it and moved it around a few times before I found something remotely decent.
I looked over to my phone, still nothing back from Melanie. My mind kept racing, thinking about the conversation we were having. She said she cared but yet she hadn’t spoken to me since Amelia’s show. That was the last time she needed something, so what did she have up her sleeve this time? It was the same questions over and over again in my head, but each time, something changed. I changed when I thought about them. Frustration came over me with the first few texts and now that I was looking back at my phone, I felt content.
At least she was reaching out.
Texting wasn’t something we did normally thought. It was typically a phone call or Melanie showing up to my office. This was different for her and now I was wondering why she might be scared to get me on the phone and talk to me herself?
Melanie:I wanted to ask you on a date.
I read and then reread the text multiple times, having long forgotten about the graphic on my computer. The guys could have come barging into my fortress and I wouldn’t have even noticed or cared.
Melanie was asking me on a date.
What the hell was I supposed to say to that?
Then it hit me. I knew exactly what to say to it.
Jack:I don’t think I can say yes to that, Melanie.
