Hendrix: What did you have in mind?
I grin looking at the phone. She’s intrigued. I decide to play a little.
August: Just what I said. Coming over to hang out with me at my place. Or we could meet up at the bar.
I watch as the bubbles pop up and disappear in our chat. Finally, she hits send.
Hendrix: You’re not worried about anyone seeing us at the bar?
August: That’s why I suggested my place, silly girl.
I wait to see which option she’ll take. But then I add a little more.
August: I’m alone tonight too, so if you have another suggestion, I’m game.
Hendrix: I’m beat. Can I just come over?
I smile at my phone. Of course she can come over.
August: You know you can. Come right on over.
Hendrix: Have you eaten?
August: I haven’t. I’ll order us some food when you get here.
Hendrix: See you in a few.
August: Can’t wait!
I’m so happy she wants to spend time with me. It makes me think that maybe she’s not going to worry too much about how I perceive her based on what she told me. Or that she doesn’t care if her brother gets angry that we’re hanging out together. Sure, he might not be home right now, but even still, he’ll probably guess where she is when he gets home.
A half hour passes and no Hendrix. I start to wonder if she changed her mind or if her brother came home and asked her not to leave. She would probably just give in and spend time with him to keep the peace. After all, I don’t know how long he’ll be in Tampa. I can’t get upset with her for wanting to stay home with him.
Just when I’ve given up hope that she’s actually coming to see me tonight, the elevator dings once in my living room, letting me know that someone has chosen my floor. I grin and make my way through the open balcony door and into my living room. Iface the elevator, waiting for it to reach my floor and for Hendrix to walk through those doors.
The chimes signal its arrival. Slowly, the doors open and there she stands.
My Hendrix.
Looking so much like the girl she was when I met her in college. Her long brown hair is hanging in loose waves, like when she has showered but let her locks air dry. She is wearing a pair of men’s athletic shorts and an oversized black cropped tee. She’s holding a bag of takeout from In- N-Out Burger in her hand. I take her in and grin.
“I bet you didn’t even realize that there was an In-N-Out Burger in Tampa,” she tells me as she makes her way farther into my living room.
“No, I knew,” I say, teasing her.
“You didn’t. You needed me to tell you. Just like you did back in college.” She giggles, and her laugh is infectious.
I walk over to her, taking the bag of takeout and placing it on the coffee table. I push strands of her hair back from her face so that I can fully see her. “Is that a fact?”
“It sure is,” she says, grinning back at me.
“Thank you for bringing me dinner. I could have ordered something,” I say, studying her eyes. Watching as they are smiling back at me. She looks so relaxed, comfortable and easygoing right now, not like the last time that I saw her. I love it.
“You’re very welcome. I figured that you still can’t survive unless someone is feeding you. Tonight, it will be me,” she announces, sidestepping me and moving to sit on the couch.
“I’ll have you know on many nights, I take care of myself.”
“I bet you right now if I got up and looked in your fridge, there would no actual food in there. Snacks, sure, you always had those. But nothing that you could make a real dinner with,” she teases me.
