I’m sure that was much more embarrassing for her though, but still. A very Awkward moment in the life of Eli.
He’s right. I’m laughing so hard I don’t even flinch when I pick up my phone and reply to his message.
Me: 555-076-9987
My phone rings almost immediately. I take a deep breath and answer.
“That really happened?” I giggle. I’m almost ready to pass out, I’m so fucking nervous.
“Unfortunately, yes. I couldn’t look at the guy for years afterward. The worse thing was he was a friend of my Dad’s so we saw them all the time.”
“Did your dad ever find out?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. Probably,” he chuckles. “I can’t believe you actually gave me your number. I’ve been trying to get it for the last six months. I was beginning to think you might be a middle-aged dude who lives with his mother and owns forty cats.” His voice is gravelly and sexy.
My heart is pounding as I slide further down the bed, a smile on my face. “Yeah, well I’m certainly all female, no cats, and my number is the only thing you’re getting from me for a while, okay?” I grumble and he laughs.
“You say that now…but honestly, I love our chats, Jill. Talking to you just makes things easier. I feel I can learn more about you. Besides,” he adds, “your voice is fucking sexy.”
I giggle and clap my hand over my mouth. Sexy is not something I’ve been called before. Awkward, sure, but not sexy.
“Thanks. You don’t sound too bad yourself.” I cringe, because I sound like an immature schoolgirl. Part of me wants to hang up and call him again so we can start over.
So I do.
I wait a minute and then press redial on the last number in my phone.
“What happened?” he asks, confused.
“I hung up,” I say seriously. “I was sounding like a starstruck fuckwit, so I wanted a do-over.”
He begins to laugh. “A do-over? You can’t just decide to have a do-over. It doesn’t work like that.”
“Why not?” I argue.
“Because you’ve already made that first impression,” he chuckles. “Hanging up on me doesn’t erase that. Besides, is this really going that much better?”
Fuck. He’s right.
“Hey, Eli!” I say brightly. “It’s great to finally put a voice to the texts. How are you doing?” I say in my smoothest voice.
“Oh my god, Jill. You’re insane.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, well, you knew that already. So, what are you up to? It’s a Friday night and you’re on the phone to some chick you’ve never met?”
“Good point. Honestly, I’m packing. My father is sick, so I’m moving down to help him out.”
“Wow,” I mumble. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, well, life sucks sometimes but we just have to deal.” He pauses for a moment. “So the interesting thing is, I’ll be moving to Denver. For a few months, anyway.”
My heart begins to race because I know this isn’t good. My Denver? He’s moving here? I can already feel the pressure to meet up with him, especially now that I’ve given in to the talking on the phone part.
“Jill?” he laughs. “I’ll admit, dead silence was not the response I was going for. I was hoping for a little more excitement.”
“I’m sorry,” I mumble, my face growing warm. “It was just a shock. Wow. You’re moving out here.”
“You sound thrilled,” he comments dryly. “Anyone would think you’re not too keen to meet me.”
I groan and bury my head in my pillow. How do I explain this to him? “It’s not that. I do want to meet you. I’m just afraid you won’t like what you see,” I say carefully.
“Jill, look at it as gaining another friend. If it’s more than that, then great. But no pressure, okay?”
Another friend? I snort. You’d need friends in the first place for that.
“Okay,” I sigh. “So, when do you move here?”
“Tomorrow.” I can almost hear his smile through the phone. “I don’t suppose you want to catch up for dinner?”
“Shouldn’t you be spending time with your ailing father?” I tease, but inside I’m dying. I can’t meet him tomorrow. There is now way I can carry on my lie in person. One look at me and he’ll see it in my eyes because ironically, I’m the worst liar ever.
“That’s what my sisters are for. I’m there to help him out at work.” He pauses. “Dad and I have…issues.”
“Oh.”
“Can I call you when I get in?”