Walking over to the fridge, I grab another energy drink and pop it open. Looking to see that it has now been almost thirty-one hours since I woke up yesterday, I figure what is another six hours going to do?
Plopping down on my bed again, I grab my controller, bring up the screen, and press start for the next round.
Before I can really get into exploring the forest outside the city gate, my phone rings again.
“Farrah, I’m fine,” I practically yell into the line.
“That’s great to hear, sweetheart, but I’m not Farrah.”
“Callahan?” Feeling like somehow he can see me, I smooth down my hair that is insistent on sticking up at every angle. My shirt, stretched and stained from Doritos, seems less okay now that we’re talking.
“Yeah, you miss me?”
I actually do. Every time I try not to think about him, it’s like trying to run through a yellow light; I never quite make it before it turns red.
“Why are you calling me?”
“I guess to talk, catch up, convince you to go on a date with me.”
I take a big gulp of my drink and sit back, sinking into the conversation.
“So you’re in San Francisco now?” I ask.
“Yeah, just got settled into my place. I think you would like it. It has double sinks in the primary bathroom.”
“Oh my god.” I press my hand to my cheeks, trying to fight them from lifting. He still hears the smile in my voice.
“It also has a walk-in closet. I don’t know if you noticed, but I don’t have a lot of clothes. Plenty of room for someone else.” I can see his cheeky grin even through the phone, sure that his pink lips are poking out from his thick beard.
“Tell me what else it has.”
“Well, I thought you might like somewhere with an open concept and a bay window. Cost a lung and a limb, but it’s pretty.”
“Are you sure you aren’t doing something illegal to afford this?” Hoping I didn’t hit a sore spot, I feel relieved when I hear him chuckle.
“People just pay me because I’m so damn sexy.”
“Can I get in on this business?”
“Paying me or getting paid? Because I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I want to spoil you senseless just to see those eyes light up.”
Somehow, despite my current reality, my eyes do light up. Without knowing it, he is capable of doing the thing I have been trying to do all day. I’m finally distracted.
We go back and forth with light flirtation and a few jabs on my side. It never hits anything too deep, but it’s just enough that, for a moment, nothing else is happening in my life. When I yawn three times, he finally asks me if I’m tired.
“Yeah, I stayed up all night playing Wonderlust. It’s this fairy game where you’re fighting for your land not to be conquered by the dark knight.”
“Never been one for video games myself, but the excitement in your voice lets me know I would like watching you play.”
I love playing with other people around. It was Charlie who introduced me to this game in the first place.
“Yeah, well, that probably won’t happen.”
“Why not?”
Saying I might die seems dramatic when what I really mean is I might not be up to seeing anyone for a while. At least not for that long.
However, if I’m going to spend an hour talking to him on the phone, I should probably call Charlie or Farrah. Still, I don’t hang up.
