I turned to her with a curious expression.
"From last week. The big, handsome guy you grew up with. EJ."
"What'd he say?"
"He wanted another haircut next week, and I told him you'd be in Italy."
"Did he schedule something?"
She shook her head. "He said he was going to text you on your phone."
"Okay thanks," I said with a casual, serious expression that did not at all reflect what I was feeling. Inside, I felt joy, elation, happiness, excitement, hope, relief… all the good things. I told him not to come back for a haircut, and the fact that he was trying to schedule one just really made my day. I held the stoic expression and walked off to take a break.
I went directly to my phone.
It was on the shelf at my station, and I looked at it as soon as I possibly could. I hadn't heard from him at all in the last week. I had told him not to call, and yet I was overjoyed in this moment. I had my notifications silenced, so nothing appeared until I pressed the button to open the text app.
I was excited and breathless by the time I saw his name on the screen. EJ Decker had sent me a text, and I shook as I got to it and began to read.
EJ:
Hey Savanna, I've been thinking about you and wanted to catch up. I called to schedule a haircut and heard you'd be overseas next week. Just wondering if you could fit me in sometime before.
Could I fit him in?What sort of backwards world were we living in?EJ Decker was way too famous and desirable to be texting me these things. Ihad checked his social media more times than I should've during the last week, and I knew how busy, rich, famous, and desirable he was. I read the message again, blinking at it and deciding what to say in return.
Evie came in as I was typing, and she had a question for me regarding an order we made and whether or not a certain type of shampoo was in it. I answered her question as patiently as I could, but I knew I had a ten-minute break, and I wanted to respond to EJ.
Me:
Yes, I'm heading to Italy in a few days, but I'll get you in anytime.
I hit send, and then I read it, cringing and thinking that I could've done a better job with my response.
"Oh, well," I said out loud.
"What?" Evie said, since she was still in the room and she heard me.
"Nothing, texting a friend," I assured her with a small smile.
Within seconds, he texted me back.
EJ:
Can I call you?
I needed to run.
Without drawing too much attention to myself, I moved as quickly as I could.
"I'm taking a quick break upstairs. I'll be back in a minute for KK," I explained to Evie as I moved quickly past her. I didn't go up to my apartment much while I was working, but she didn’t bat an eye at my sudden departure.
Once I was in the stairwell, I typed a text and sent it.
Me:
Yes, I'm available now.
I hit send, and my phone started ringing while I was still climbing the stairs. I was already breathless at the thought of talking to him, and the stairs were not helping matters. I slowed down to answer since I knew no one could hear me.
