Six weeks later

Three minutes until Phoebe calls. I’m sitting at my computer tapping my fingers impatiently. It’s still hot in New York, and my apartment, less apartment and more shoe box, doesn’t have air conditioning. This is the reason for me sitting here in only a pair of basketball shorts, waiting for my girlfriend to call me.

Well, and the video chat sex fest we’re scheduled to have. Yep, six weeks apart and we’ve succumbed to video chatting sex. Of course, it’s better than old school phone sex because I get to watch Phoebe as she comes. And it’s still my favorite look.

I smile as the ring signals my incoming call. Leaning back, I click the answer button and watch as my girl fills the screen. She’s wearing a light pink tank with tiny straps that are straining to contain her chest. Her freckles are in full force, and her hair is down in natural waves over her shoulders. I can tell she’s forgone a bra, and I’m instantly hard.

“Hey, baby,” Phoebe coos, twisting a piece of her hair around her finger. Flirty and coy Phoebe is a lot of fun these days.

“Girlfriend.”

Raising a brow, Phoebe smiles. “Boyfriend.”

“Fuck, that never gets old.”

“You’re ridiculous, Madsen.” Maybe I am, but it’s true. I’ve waited a long time for her to make us official, and I’ll never tire of hearing her utter the word. Phoebe hops up and down in her seat, clapping her hands, and I confirm she isn’t wearing a bra. “Babe, guess what?”

“Hmm . . .” I’m distracted by her barely there tank top and the outline of her nipples through the cotton.

Snapping her fingers, Phoebe catches my attention. I look up quickly to find her smirking before she speaks. “You’re such a perv.” I don’t disagree. “I love you.” She sighs. “You know that, right?” This is something new for Phoebe, telling me out of nowhere that she loves me.

“I do.”

“Ugh, don’t say those words. They make me think of bridezilla. Kelsey is driving me nuts. She’s pissed I won’t make it back as planned for my fitting.”

“She’s not the only one disappointed. I can only hold my own dick so many times. Even I’m sick of it.”

Phoebe’s laugh fills my room as I take my computer and lie on my bed. She does the same and, like we do every night, we begin to talk about our day. Some nights this is all we do. We plan on getting each other off but instead, we talk. We plan. Phoebe tells me about her work and how quickly the company is growing. I’m unbelievably proud of her and make sure she knows that. Her parents are over the moon excited for her, and her dad has told her more than once if she wants to move here he’ll pull some strings to get her in with one of the department stores. She’s refused.

I’m bummed that I won’t see her in a few weeks as planned. It’s been far too long for us to be apart, but I waited years for Phoebe to return my feelings, I’m not going to let a few weeks get me down. Besides, my work hasn’t slowed down, and although I’m still learning and very entry level, I’m busy enough I wouldn’t get much time off if she were here. When we realized we wouldn’t have time together, we planned a weekend together closer to the holidays. Unfortunately for me, her mom wasn’t having that and made Phoebe promise to come to their house instead. I’m hoping to get a few extra days off to join her.

“Do you think there will be sharks on the beach?” Phoebe asks this at least twice a week. She’s not scared of the possibility, she’s excited.

“I hope not. That shit is crazy, babe.”

“Whatever, don’t be a baby.”

Phoebe tells me about the beauty of sharks, and I, like always, disagree with it all. Of course, there was a time a few weeks ago I would have liked her to encourage Jackson to swim out to look for them. Even after I explained to him that Phoebe and I are committed, he still tried to ask her out. I get it, Phoebe is close to perfect. But, she’s taken. So very taken.

When we passed security after Phoebe told me, and the entire security line, that she loved me and told me I had a girlfriend, I pulled out my phone, changed the name Phoebe put in my phone for Jackass, and sent him a text message.

Me: Hey, it’s Madsen.

Jackass: What’s up?

Me: I want to get one thing clear before I get on this plane.

Jackass: Go ahead.

Me: Make no mistake, if you try to be anything other than my girlfriend’s boss and friend, I will get on the first flight back to Cali and we’ll have a conversation.

Then, I sent him a gif of a scene from Fight Club and another immediately after of a guy pointing from his eyes to the screen. I think he got the hint and has since been less available to Phoebe’s every whim. Plus, her new roommate can’t stand him. Something about no call after a string of promises. I don’t know what that’s about, but as long as Miranda is living with Phoebe, I know Jackson will keep his distance.

When I left Santa Cruz, I expected the long-distance relationship to be difficult. It’s not the relationship that’s difficult, it’s not being able to touch Phoebe. Not being able to sit naked in my bed, eating Chinese food every weekend and pretending I can’t stand the romance movies she makes me watch. But, like I tell her all the time, these missed trips are just a small part of our story.

“Hey baby?” I’m interrupting, but I’m not as excited as she is about a new city being added to the Housewives franchise.

“Yeah?” Phoebe replies, stretching her arms and causing her tank to lift, exposing her tan stomach.

“You know how much I love you?”

“Yes, dear.”

“Good. And as much as I want to hear all about the Real Housewives of Winnemucca or whatever, I would really rather watch you take that top off.”

Phoebe offers me a big smile and before I can blink, she’s shed the tank and sits before me topless. Damn I love this girl. I can’t wait until she’s in my arms again.

Big things are coming for Phoebe and me. Life changing and important moments. I only hope when those big things happen, we’ll be in the same city.

Or at the very least, the same coast.

Stay tuned for the conclusion of Phoebe & Madsen’s love story in Winter Break.