Page 23 of Letting Go
“Dogs are the best. But circling back, what were you going to text me about? Did something happen tonight, or did you think of something?” Walker asks.
“Yeah, I thought of how good looking you are and how I wondered if a dime would bounce off your ass, although that did not feel like an appropriate thing to say to a sexy FBI guy, even if I wanted to climb you like a tree.” My hand clasps over my mouth with a squeak as my cheeks blaze with mortification from the words coming out of my mouth.What is wrong with me?!
A velvet, warm, deep laughter rings on the other end before Walker replies, “Technically I’m a Special Agent, but what else would this text have said?”
“No one knows, it’s a mystery like where my mint chocolate chip ice cream went, Special Agent.” I huff—I really wanted that ice cream. “I wanted to lick it off a spoon, but there are other things I apparently want to lick tonight. And since I can’t lie, I really hope neither of us remember this conversation in the morning.”
“I wouldn’t want that, and I don’t think I could forget this if I tried, Vivian. What were you up to tonight before you were on the hunt for mint chocolate chip ice cream?”
“I had drinks with my best friends and got to have some fun tonight. I used to have so much fun in life. Do you get to have fun, Walker Special Agent? Before tonight, it’d been so long because everything went to complete shit in my life.” I close my eyes. “Except the sensational zings when you touched my hand, that definitely was not shit at all, but I didn’t know what that felt like.”
“You didn’t know what it felt like?” he asks.
I try to think of how best to describe it before I answer. “Mmm. Magic,” I whisper into the phone.
“Magic?”
“Magic. It must have been magic; warm, sparkly, lovely, bewitching magic. But right now, I wish I knew what a bowl of mintchocolate chip ice cream in my hands felt like so I could enjoy some. Oooo or even strawberry would be good!”
“Strawberry ice cream or strawberries?”
“Either! Both! I love all things strawberry flavored. I mean, mint chocolate chip ice cream is still the best flavor of ice cream, but in general, I love strawberry flavored things.”
Walker laughs. “Just a suggestion, but I think it might be a better idea to get a glass of water, some ibuprofen, and head to bed.”
“That’s probably the smart route, Walker Special Agent man. Handsome and smart? You’re the whole package. I bet you have a nice package too. Oh, Jiminy Cricket! Can we please pretend this didn’t happen tomorrow?” I ask as I grab the counter and pull myself up. After I lock the front door and set the alarm, I head upstairs to the bedrooms.
“I think it’s only fair that if you can’t lie to me, then I can’t lie to you, ma’am,” Walker answers.
“I like that, but I don’t think that’s the answer I want right now.”
“Okay, what answer would you like right now?”
“Tell me a truth that puts us on even footing after this embarrassing conversation, please.” So I don’t have to feel so mortified when I realize in the morning everything I accidentally said to him.
“You weren’t the only one.” Walker’s voice is much softer and I have to turn the volume up as I put the phone on speaker and toss it on my bed.
“The only one that what?” His statement doesn’t make sense.
“Felt the magic … zings.” He felt the warm sensation when we touched too? What does that mean?
“What are you doing and what was that noise?” Walker’s voice echoes off my bedroom walls.
“I’m getting cozy so I can pass out like a proper lady.” And relieved he finally asked me a question that didn’t make me blush.
“Did you give up on the mint chocolate chip ice cream?” he teases.
“Oh! I love mint chocolate chip ice cream! I wish I had some. I’m ditching my clothes. I’m going to have to find ibuprofen in the morning, if I don’t have any my sister will. She always has what I need, she’s the best. She takes such good care of everyone.” I toss my bra over my shoulder and fall on my bed.
“You’re, uh … ditching your clothes?” Walker clarifies and clears his throat.
“Yes, sleeping naked is the best way, sober or not,” I reply but my eyes start feeling really heavy. “I think I need to go now, I’m the total opposite of sober and will be humiliated in the morning by everything I let slip. I should cut my losses and run now Special Agent Man. I’m sorry for accidentally calling you and interrupting your evening, or well, your morning I guess.”
“Don’t worry about it. This call was exceptionally entertaining for me and you don’t need to be embarrassed nor do you need to apologize but sleep is a good idea. Ibuprofen tonight would be a good one too, but for sure in the morning. Goodnight, Vivian,” Walker says.
“Hmm. Good idea, but too much work right now. Goodnight, handsome Walker,” I mumble before letting my heavy lids close. “Now I can dream of mint chocolate chip ice cream and a very handsome, very special agent. I bet he tastes even better than any flavor of ice cream. Magic has a way of surprising you like that.” As I slip off to dreamland, it’s like I can still hear him laughing in the distance. It’s a good thing I did such a good job keeping my inside thoughts inside my head or he might think I’m crazy.
“You did a great job, and you may be a lot of things, but crazy isn’t one of them. Good night, Vivian.”
