Sherry
When I got home from work, Ava was nowhere to be found. Instead of working in the apartment that’s full of fur, I went down to the sitting area in the lobby. The one thing I love about the condo we live in is the amenities that we have. There’s a full gym, pool, little restaurant/café, and a bar all on site. It’s not fancy, but perfect for two single girls who at times don’t want to leave. Not to mention, I can go exercise when the moment arrives. I’ve not ventured into that gym in almost six months, but that’s not the point. I get plenty of exercise while walking to work and home, but at times I think I need to add some weights to my program. Pushing that thought down just as quickly as it arrived, I turn my focus back on the search for penthouses.
This afternoon when I returned to work from lunch, I had to listen to June go on and on about how important this is for Dawson Realty. Not to mention she took up almost the rest of the day with other crap that I just wasn’t in the mood for. Which has brought me to this point of my evening. Sipping on a glass of white wine, I look at other brokers websites and marketing. My list has grown, but the sinking feeling that I have in the pit of my stomach tells me that I’ve not found the right one for Mr. McBride. June wanted at least ten places to show him, and out of the six I have they are just okay. I need WOW! I need that one place that you just can’t walk out of until you have submitted a contract. That’s what I have to find. Then I wonder if I’ve already found it. I mean, this isn’t a place that I’ll live, it’s a place to sell to our client. One that will not only show June that she didn’t make a mistake of hiring me and investing so much time. One that will show myself that I can do this. That even though I ran away from my dream of helping and saving lives, I’m on the right path for the what looks to be the new goal for my life.
With a glance at the clock on my computer, I’ll give it another hour before I head upstairs and prepare for work tomorrow. Ava finally texted and said she was staying out again tonight. I reminded her of our appointment tomorrow at the salon, which I added the guilt that she doesn’t love me anymore into it for good measure. I can’t wait until she realizes what package I reserved for her. Paybacks are always fun, but I’ll have to be on my A-game to her next move. It seems our friendship is based on twisted jokes. It’s been that way from the start. No reason to change it.
All of a sudden the hair on the back of my neck stands along with a fluttering deep within my abdomen. My eyes roam around the room, taking in my surroundings as I feel someone staring at me. When I’m done circling the area and can’t figure it out, I go back to scrolling through the database. Trying to shake it off, I can’t for the life of me get this feeling that someone’s here off my mind. Sitting up straight, I search the room again. It’s then that I spot him, not staring at me but enjoying a drink at the tiny bar off to the right. My eyes flutter between the computer screen and him, just like the butterflies are doing. I can’t stop it, they have a mind of their own. I wonder if he’s seen me? Can I make an escape to the elevator without being noticed? I’m not as quiet as I think I am. Which means I need to mark off being a ninja with my moves. I’d end up rolling on the floor like a beached seal. That would be a surefire way of getting noticed. Tapping my fingers on the keys of my laptop like I’m actually working, I drag my bottom lip through my teeth while coming up with a plan. The whole time I keep my eyes on Greyson. No, not like staring at his eyes. It’s more a slanted look between the computer and his backside sitting on the barstool. Okay, fine… I’m staring at his round ass that I just want to grab. That would be funny. I could stand, run over, and grab it before taking off. That would tell him I’m not interested, right? Hell no, I would be deeper into this issue than I was a few hours ago. Maybe, just maybe I can talk Ava into moving in a few months when our lease is up. Greyson just moved in, which means he has at least eleven more months before he can move. That would be the better plan. After that, I’ll just need to find a way to never go into the office again. I doubt June will want to relocate Dawson Realty to help me out in this situation. Knowing her, she’d march herself over to that office and schedule an appointment if she knew what he looked like.
Yawning, I decide that I need to head upstairs before I fall asleep down here. Don’t laugh, it’s happened, and I won’t put anything past the fact that it could happen again.
I glance back over to Greyson and take in how he’s messing with his phone. Ignoring him the best I can, I slide my laptop into my backpack, stand, and take a deep breath when I hear my phone buzz.
Greyson: Care to join me for a drink?
Yes, I finally added his name to my phone today. Don’t judge…
I hesitate a little longer than I should before I respond.
Me: Thanks, but I need to head up.
I leave it at that. No glance toward him. No smile. Nothing, just my back turning toward him as I walk away. If I’d have done what I wanted to do, I’d end up having a drink and most likely allow Greyson to kiss me. I’ve only daydreamed about that about ten times today, okay fine, make it twenty or so times. The vibrating sensation in my back pocket has me ignoring my phone until I get to my apartment. I have no idea if it’s him, Ava, or June, but I plan to not read it until I’m locked behind my door.
Setting my backpack down on the corner of my bed, I bend over and pick up Mr. Tinkerbell for a quick snuggle. He’s the only cat that I can cuddle with that doesn’t turn me into a hot sneezing mess. The rest I need to make a decision on. I know what’s best for not only me but for them. Sliding my phone out, I move past that green bubble with the red notice that I have not only one, but two messages, now in my reminders section. If I don’t set a reminder for most things, I’ll forget about everything. Satisfied that tomorrow I’ll start a new trend of finding the other three a home, I give in to the text.
Ava: Just checking in on you? Are you still fighting the HOT HOT HOT Doctor that I’m sure has an even HOTTER PENIS?
Greyson: Have a good night, Sherry, and if you need a ride to work tomorrow just let me know.
I can’t help but laugh at Ava. She’s my best friend and my biggest cheerleader. We just work. It’s more because we are so different and understand how different we are that we have made it this long in life without killing each other. I think of a quick comeback before I type. ‘I’m sure it’s the biggest and most perfect pink penis that I would ever see in this lifetime. However, I’ll only be dreaming about that HOT Doctor and his even HOTTER Penis. Have fun tonight, and I can’t wait to hear you scream tomorrow after your appointment.’
With a quick laugh, I lay my phone down on the dresser and head to the shower. Curious what Ava will come back with, I laugh slightly more at my comment. However, I did forget to use the eggplant emoji. Recently Ava and I had a texting war with them, and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why she was sending me eggplants. Like a million in one text. Apparently, that was her way of telling me to get laid, and not by BOB. The more embarrassing fact of this was I finally walked my sleepy butt over to her room and asked if she needed me to fry up some eggplant for dinner the next night. See, I told you I was a blonde through and through. I literally thought my best friend was asking for fried eggplant. Not that it meant sex, penis, getting laid, wanna tango—you name it I heard it that night after she got up from the floor laughing. Still to this day, I can hear her chuckle when I send one. It’s become the best joke for her to tell our friends. Hell, I’m shocked she didn’t put it in the condo’s monthly newsletter.
Wrapping the towel around my body, I head out and do a quick glance to see if she’s texted me back. Disappointed that the small icon hasn’t shown up yet, I pad through the apartment in search of a snack. With a bag of white cheddar pop chips and an ice cold glass of water, I go back to my room to dress. I need to just crawl into bed and sleep, but I rather curl up and watch some TV until I doze off. Just as I enter the room my phone chirps and the excited feeling I get for her snarky comeback is so real that I’m already laughing before I read it.
Noticing that I have another message from Greyson instead of Ava, my excitement dwindles.
Greyson: So, you dream of me and think my penis is perfect? Strange that you’ve not seen it, but I’ll go with it.
My eyes are as wide as Saturn as I scroll up to see that I didn’t send that to Ava. Instead, the message flipped to his next and I typed it out to him. OH MY GOD! I can’t even come back with something to say to that. Do I ignore him? Do I respond, wrong message? How many flipping doctors does one have that she could blame this on? I need the earth to open up and swallow me whole and STAT. Immediately, I dial Ava instead of risking my phone texting him again.
“What’s up, sleepy dwarf?”
“Ava, be serious! I have a code blue emergency.”
“Listening,” she says, sounding panicked because we haven’t had to use the code blue in awhile.
“I texted Greyson instead of you. When I mean I texted I mean I responded to your dirty text with even dirtier words. Now he thinks I think his penis is perfect and that I dream of him.”
“This sounds more like a code yellow and not a code blue, unless you just gave him blue balls, and then it totally fits the code blue. We might need to come up with new rules.”
“Can you not focus on what I just said. Who gives a shit about what color the code is, this is still a state of an emergency! What do I do? I can’t be talking to him now with him thinking I think his penis is perfect and that I might want it in me. AVA!”
“First off, you do want it in you, which is not considered code worthy. Second off, run with it and get some imaginary play going on. I know you need an eggplant in your life, Sherry. Third off, this is the best thing you’ve done in a month.”
“I’m going to fill your bed with real eggplants and let them rot. I’ll handle this my way.”
“How, by not texting him back? That’ll just show you messed up, and what’s it going to be like the next time you see him?”
“Strange… Really hard and strange, and stop laughing!” I whine as I plop back on my bed.
“You can handle this; I have faith in my super smart friend.”
“We will see, I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I say with dread.
“Later.”
When I tap that huge red button on the screen to hang up, another text comes through. I pray it’s not Greyson and luck out when it’s from Ava. Nothing but a string of eggplants fills my screen. Moving myself up in the bed, I tuck my legs up underneath me, letting out a rush of air before I text him back.
Me: Sorry, but that was sent to you by mistake. Have a great night, Greyson.
Instantly, the typing bubble displays, causing me to let out a groan. I knew I wouldn’t get out of this that easy.
Greyson: You sure that was meant for someone else? I mean, it’s okay if you want to admit what you dream about.
Me: That is none of your business. Please ignore that text and let’s move past this like adults.
Greyson: Sorry, you just proved to me that it was me. I’m pretty sure that gorgeous face of yours is as red as an apple.
Me: I’m turning my phone off. Have a great night.
I do as I told him I was going to do. I’m not going to win with him, so the best practice is to ignore his gestures, comments, and just him in general. Instead of flipping the TV on like I’d planned, I set my alarm clock and turn off the lights. Time that I wallow in my sorrow for the night and pray that this was a dream.