Well Played, стр. 13
I’m between shows right now, so I have to run. I don’t have time to come up with questions to ask you, so how about this: Tell me something. Something I don’t know about you. Which, let’s face it, is just about everything.
That long, slow breath escaped in a whoosh as I read over Dex’s words. I read his message twice, and the cold feeling that had enveloped me was quickly replaced with heat. My cheeks burned, and I put one palm to my face in an effort to cool them.
He missed me too. Well. That certainly changed things. I didn’t hesitate, didn’t even go all the way up the stairs into my apartment. My thumbs flew over my phone’s keyboard as I composed a quick message back.
Dex,
I owe you an apology. For the past couple summers we’d said that there was nothing more to us than what we did in bed (NOT THAT I’M COMPLAINING ABOUT THOSE THINGS). I thought you were never interested in getting to know me. I thought that all you were looking for was . . . well, what we were already doing.
And here we were missing each other. I guess that’s what I get for not speaking up sooner. But you could have too, you know. Though I guess you just did.
Have a great show today. Or shows. It’s early in the day still.
Something you don’t know about me: I told you my last name, but you still don’t know my first name. Here’s a hint: it’s not Stacey.
Stacey (or am I?)
Before I could lose my nerve, I hit Send. Always leave them wanting more, right?
My legs only shook a little as I pulled myself to my feet and up the stairs to my place. He missed me. He loved my smile. I traced the wings on my dragonfly necklace with one hand as I unlocked my door. “Change,” I whispered to myself. That’s what I’d been looking for, after all. Maybe these messages were the first step toward making that happen. Toward finally moving forward and getting a life of my own.
Four
A watched pot never boils, and a watched phone never . . . lights up with a text. Something like that. I was never good with metaphors. The point was, Dex didn’t message me back right away, and I was almost mad at myself for thinking he would. He’d said he was between shows, hadn’t he? I needed to get a grip.
I was so caught up in waiting for Dex to message me that it took a good hour and a half to remember that Emily had texted me too. Have extra copies of April’s book club book if you want to come pick one up! I’d just seen her at brunch, but the only other thing I had to do today was laundry, and that could wait. Besides, going to see Em would distract me from my darkened phone and its lack of notifications, so I grabbed my keys and headed downtown to Read It & Weep, the bookstore Emily managed.
“Sorry,” she said, as she handed the book across the counter. “Apparently her friends are in a depressing, World War II phase right now.”
“That’s okay, I’m just in it for the snacks. April did say there were snacks, right?” I frowned at the book. How much would I have to pay for a book that, let’s face it, I was only going to pretend to enjoy reading?
Emily nodded at it. “Half price, by the way. That’s a used copy.”
Okay, that made it less painful.
“I guess I can’t talk them into reading something fun, huh?” I fished my wallet out of my backpack and handed over my debit card.
“Probably not. They seem determined to read ‘important’ books.” Emily shrugged. “But you make a good point. I’m lining up selections for the store’s book club soon. I’ll make sure to pick . . .” She thought for a moment. “Well, books that are less depressing than this.”
“Good call.” I watched Emily run my card through. “So any more thoughts on the wedding dress?” I’d only seen Em a handful of hours ago, but who was I kidding? Of course she had more thoughts.
“Yes, but on my honor as a non-Bridezilla I will not subject you to them.” She grinned as she handed me back my card and receipt. “I’ll hold it to once a week.”
I snorted. “You will not.”
“Okay, maybe twice.”
“Mmmhmm.” I tucked the receipt between the pages of Depressing World War II Book. “How about you add me to your Pinterest board, and I’ll get a notification whenever you see something cool. Then we can discuss.”
“Deal. As long as you contribute to it too. Your eye is much better than mine.”
I ducked my head down to slip the book into my backpack, but I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. As compliments went, it wasn’t exactly effusive, but it lifted my spirits to be appreciated. Noticed. “Of course. Send me your thoughts on bridesmaid dresses and I’ll get to work.”
On the way home I had to swing through the Starbucks drive-through. Pumpkin Spice Latte season started a little earlier every year, and I was a sucker for it. Once I got home I positioned the Starbucks cup on my coffee table, moved Benedick out of the way twice, and took a picture. The coffee was mostly gone, and what was left was cold and supersweet, but that didn’t matter for the photo. Then I cross-posted it to Instagram and Facebook because I was a multitasker when it came to my social