Page 23 of Burning Obsession

“You asked to sit with him!”

“Yeah.”

“You flirted with him! And he asked for your number!”

“And your point is?”

“Read the damn message!” The words come out slow and staccato.

“No, Nellie.”

“READ IT!” she screams and I flinch, pulling the phone away from my head to save my eardrums.

“You're insane.”

“So help me God if you don’t read the message, Victor, I’m going to be on a plane just so I can put my foot up your ass.”

“Fine.”

“Thank God,” she mumbles.

I tap the notification.

His message opens.

Jake: Hey, it's Jake. Just wanted to say it was really nice meeting you today. Hope the rest of your afternoon went well.

My stomach is flipping as I read the words over and over.

“You're quiet,” Nellie says.

I swallow.

“He said it was nice to meet me today. And he hopes my day is going well.”

“Okay. So what are you going to say?”

“I don't know.”

“You need something flirty.”

“I can't be too flirty.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“Because what?”

“I don’t know, okay. In person I’m good. Texting is hard. A message can be taken in entirely the wrong way.”

Nellie laughs.

“Tell him you've been thinking about him too.”

“No.” I shut her down immediately.

“Tell him you’re glad he gave you his number.”