Eloise

I turned off my alarm, stumbled out of bed, and made my way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. I had hoped that sometime during the night, the sensation that flowed through my body from Christian would cease. But it didn’t. After letting out a long yawn, I grabbed my coffee and headed to the bathroom for a shower and to get ready for the wedding I was shooting today. The thing I loved about Sunday weddings was the fact that they were always in the afternoon and over with by five o’clock.

After the ceremony and photo shoot with the bride, groom, and the bridal party, it was time to head to the reception at Antun’s in Queens Village. As I was photographing the guests, I was startled when I heard a voice come up from behind him.

“Eloise?”

“Christian?”

My stomach twisted in a ball and a wave of heat swept over me as I turned around.

“You’re photographing this wedding?” he asked.

“Yeah. What are you doing here?” I nervously asked.

“The groom is a friend of mine. Wow. I can’t believe you’re standing in front of me. I really need to talk to you. I tried to get your number from Claire, but she wouldn’t give it to me.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m really busy. I don’t have time to talk,” I nervously spoke as I needed to get away from him.

The humiliation I felt after the events of last night was overwhelming.

“After the wedding, then. It’s important. Please.”

“Christian, look—”

“Eloise, please,” he softly spoke.

“Okay. Fine. After the wedding, but I only have a few minutes.”

“A few minutes is all I need.”

He gave me a small smile and walked away.

What could he possibly want to talk to me about? I could barely look him in the eye, let alone carry on a conversation with him. Once the wedding came to an end and I said goodbye to the bride and groom, I headed out the door and found Christian sitting on the edge of the retainer wall in front of the fountain. I took in a long, deep breath and walked over to him.

“Hey.”

“Hi,” he spoke as he stood up.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” I nervously asked.

“I just wanted to apologize to you for last night. I shouldn’t have come on so strong. It was wrong and I’m sorry.”

Wait a minute. Was he actually apologizing for having sex with me?

I didn’t know how to respond. No guy had ever done that before. It was at that moment that stupid fell from my mouth.

“Don’t apologize. It’s not like I tried to stop you. I was a willing partner.”

“Still. It never should have happened and I just wanted to clear the air. I know how upset you were afterwards. And Claire is your friend, who happens to be an employee of mine. I’m sure we’ll run into each other from time to time and I don’t want there to be any awkwardness.”

I sighed as I took a seat on the wall and he sat down next to me.

“It’s not that I was upset, Christian. What happened is something I don’t ever do.”

“You don’t ever have sex?” He smirked.

I let out a light laugh.

“I have sex, just not with a guy I don’t know. Guys are lucky if I give it up on the fifth date.”

“I respect that. You, Eloise, are a woman of value.”

“Some value.” I rolled my eyes.

“Shit happens. We’ve all made mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up over it. I just wanted to apologize, that’s all.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it. But you seriously have no need to apologize.”

He got up from the wall and began to walk away. After placing his hands in his pockets, he stopped and slowly turned his head.

“For the record, I’m happy I was your first.” He winked.

A small smile crossed my lips.

“For the record, I’m not considering it a mistake,” I spoke.

He gave me a small smile and walked away. I already knew the kind of effect he had on women. It was the same effect I felt. Women fell hard and fast for him and if I gave him another thought, I would become one of those women. Hence the reason I couldn’t get involved with him. I pulled my phone from my purse and sent a text message to Mobile Man.

“How’s your day?”

“Funny, I was just thinking about texting you. Day turned out better than I thought it would. Yours?”

“It’s good. Really good.” I inserted a smiley face.

“Glad to hear. Any more dates scheduled?”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it.” I sent the winky face.

“You’ll find the right guy. I’m sure of it.”

“I’m not looking for a guy or a relationship right now. Just some answers.”

“??”

“I want to know a man’s thought process when it comes to pursuing a woman.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“I want to know why they take hours or days to respond to a text message. Why do they suddenly go MIA or ghost a woman after leading her on?”

“I see. Maybe I can help you with that. We should meet for a drink.” He inserted the smiley face.

“You’re smooth, Mobile Man. But all is good. I’ll get the information I need.”

“So no drink?”

“No drink. Do you really want to ruin what we have by actually meeting each other? Don’t you think this is fun? The two of us just randomly talking every day without knowing who the other is?”

“I will admit it’s weird, Digits. But I’m cool with it. I like talking to you.”

“I like talking to you too.”

“One last question and then I have to go. How old are you?”

I didn’t see the harm in telling him my age. Plus, it would be good to know his. What if he was some sixty-year-old man or something. Not that it would matter because I liked talking to him. But it would be kind of weird to carry on a texting relationship with someone that old.

“I’m twenty-five. And you?”

“Thirty.”

Thank God. He was only a few years older than me.

“Have a good night, my friend,” I replied.

“You too, Digits. Be safe and behave yourself.”

“You too. Don’t go out and be a douchebag to some poor girl.”

“I will keep my douchebaggery to a minimum.”

I smiled as I closed out of my messages and placed my phone in my purse. It was time to go home, get changed, and hit up the bar to try and meet some guys.