from any other message I have received from him before.
;-p
He’s sticking his tongue out at me.
“That’s a bit audacious,” I mutter under my breath, but I can’t help grinning.
“Two can play at that game.”
My mind starts to think about where he should pick me up. Work? No, not the right place. The park across the street from our house? No, any weirdo could be there.
Maybe he should pick me up from my house. Would that be so
bad? Sarah has these guys at our house all the time, and we don’t know them. Aiden seems nice. I start to message back.
Don’t stick your tongue out at me, smart-ass. Okay, five
thirty. You can pick me up from 13 Chaucer St, Mornington Vale, in a Cadillac. Don’t be late ;-p Jeni.
I hit Send. I put my cell phone away and eat my lunch. I start to head to the ladies room when I hear my cell phone go off. I hope that it’s him. I turn back and retrieve my cell phone from my bag. The anticipation to see his response is growing rapidly. I unlock the cell phone to
see a message from ... a printer cartridge supplier.
Do you need refills of your printer cartridges? Then come
see us, Printerworld, 14 Belview Place, Mornington Vale. Quality ink, cheap prices.
I exhale as the disappointment flows through me. I put my
cell phone away and continue to the ladies room, feeling slightly saddened that the message wasn’t a reply from Aiden, but I’m sure he’ll get back to me soon enough.
I continue on with my day until I look up at the clock. Four
thirty, time to pack up and go home. I call the taxi service, and we go through the usual dialogue.
I walk down to the repair shop to see how my car is going. “Hey, Bob.”
“Hey, sweetness, getting ready to head home?”
“Yes, waiting for the taxi. How’s my car coming along?”
He leads me over and shows me the panel work.
“Looks great, thanks so much.”
He puts his arm around my shoulders. “We still have to paint
her tomorrow. You should have her back by Thursday after work.”
I let out a breath of relief. “Thanks, I appreciate you working on my car so quickly.”
“Anything for you, sweetness.”
“I’m off. See you tomorrow. You okay to lock up?”
“Of course, I have more quotes to do. I’ll be here for a couple more hours.”
I look at him sympathetically. “Have fun with that. Night.”
I give him a quick peck on the cheek.
By the time I walk to the front reception area, the taxi is waiting for me.
Before I know it, I’m home. I pay the taxi driver, exit, and
head to the front door. As I walk down the hallway, I hear music playing loudly in the living room. I walk into the kitchen area, where Sarah is cooking macaroni and cheese.
“We’re having mac and cheese for dinner?”
“Yup,” she says matter-of-factly.
I continue to my room, once I’ve collected my cell. I put my cell phone on the bed and get changed into my casual clothes. My cell phone beeps. I breathe in deeply and swallow as a lump forms in my throat.
I’m never late, especially when it’s to pick you up! Looking forward to seeing you on Friday, and I hope you like the color pink. Don’t be
late. From Mr. Smart-ass. ;-p
My heart skips a beat when I read the message; he’s looking forward to seeing me? I can’t believe it. I hit Reply .
Dear Mr. Smart-ass, my favorite color is pink. How did you know? I’m also never late, excluding, of course, times when some moron drives
into the back of my car. ;-p I look forward to seeing you also. Jeni
I hit Send as I lay back on my bed with a broad smile
on my face. Maybe he isn’t so bad after all? Could he be different from the guys I’ve known?My cell phone beeps again, and I read the message.
I know everything, Jenifer! A moron, huh? I thought I was a smart-ass. You can’t have it both ways, Jeni.
I laugh to myself, remembering my fantasy in the shower when
he said exactly the same thing. “I know everything.” Curiosity