Megan: Omg! You saved it!
Jeff: I said I would.
Megan: Why name it Fred?
Jeff: Why not?
She sent back a laughing-crying emoticon.
Jeff carried the coffeepot back to the coffeemaker and poured the water into the top. Then he put in a filter and opened his coffee bean canister. Sitting on top of the beans was the ten-dollar bill they had been trading. He laughed, snapped a picture, and texted it to Megan.
Jeff: How did you hide this without me seeing?
Megan: It’s about time! I’ve been waiting for you to find it.
Jeff: I haven’t been making coffee lately. I’ve been going to Brewbirds. It reminds me of you from when we went together.
Megan: Aww. You’re so sweet. And here I thought our game had come to an end. I was a little disappointed.
Jeff: Never. So I’m guessing you put this in here when you came over before you left, but what would you have done if you hadn’t come over? Or was that the plan all along?
Megan: Not the plan. I was going to slip it into your pocket at some point around Antonio’s but figured you would think I was trying to feel you up.
Jeff: I mean, I wouldn’t have complained.
Megan: Duly noted.
JUNE 15TH
Megan sat in the Arizona boardroom after everyone stepped away for lunch. She sighed and picked up her phone. It had been nearly a month since she had left Wintervale, and she was considering flying there for the weekend just to see Jeff. Texting didn’t feel like enough.
Megan: I miss you.
Jeff: I miss you more.
Megan: Are you busy this weekend?
Jeff: Yes. We have an event going on on the mountain. It’s all hands on deck.
Megan: Damn. I was thinking of coming to see you.
Jeff: Maybe next weekend?
Megan: I can’t. Work retreat. Weekend after?
Jeff: Gearing up for the holiday festivities. We’ll be busy for a few weeks with tourists.
Megan: Mid-July?
Jeff: Let’s put a pin in it and see.
Megan sighed and set her phone down. She needed to go out and get lunch, but the Arizona heat was unbearable. Just the thought of it sounded miserable. It was too late for her to order lunch to arrive before her break was up, so she forced herself out of her seat. She couldn’t wait for her standing dinner date with Jeff that night. A video call while they ate was exactly what she needed.
JULY 31ST
Jeff: Can I come see you? I feel like we’ve both been crazy busy.
Jeff set his phone down on his kitchen table. They were missing another dinner date. Megan’s boss seemed to be needy lately, and she was gone more often than not. Or maybe Jeff just felt that way since they kept missing each other’s calls. Wheneverone of them got a free moment, the other was busy, and he was feeling the loneliness creeping in.
His phone buzzed.
Megan: I would love it if you did, but I’m so busy. I’m worried I wouldn’t be able to spend time with you.
Jeff: I don’t care. I just want to see you.
His heart pounded at the thought. They’d never spent the night together, but he just wanted to hold her while she slept. If that’s all the time they could spare, he’d take it.
Megan: Please come.
