Page 15 of Body Checking
We tease with love. It’s how best friends do it.
“Pose. What are you thinking?” she asks, and I grab my phone and step towards the hallway and down the stairs.
“I was thinking about morning coffee in the kitchen or on the couch. Something casual.”
She nods with squinty eyes and says, “Yes. Give the illusion that you’re just a regular girl who enjoys a nice cup of coffee and quiet mornings.”
I pull open the cabinet only to stop and look at her. “Iama regular girl who enjoys coffee and quiet mornings. You’re the one who loves chaos and energy drinks first thing in the morning.”
“Eh. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to. What’s the difference? Hey, make me a cup, too?”
I reach in and grab two cups, plopping one under the dispenser and find a pod that I know is perfect for Sasha. Mainly because she’s the one who bought and shoved it into my pod organizer. I like a nice light roast with a splash of oat milk. Sasha, on the other hand, likes hers equivalent to an espresso with a shot of espresso mixed in with about five sugars.
Once our coffees are finished, we take them to the couch where we sit and take the first sip of heaven. I inhale the rich scent and close my eyes, taking in all that has happened in the short time I’ve been awake.
“So are we doing this, or what?” Sasha speaks, breaking my peace.
I pop one eye open and look at her. “Why do you always have to ruin my zen?” She answers me with a wide smile,which is her way of telling me that I can’t get rid of her no matter how hard I try.
“Quit stalling. Let’s get this bitch done. I wanna see what kind of picture lover boy sends in return.”
“Sasha!” I chastise and she looks at me with no cares. “IfI get anything, I will not be sharing with you.”
“Boo. You whore.”
I stick my tongue out at her then pick up my phone and hold it out in front of me. Flipping the camera around I move left and then right, then tilt my head one way and then the other, trying to find a good position.
“Oh my god. Give me the fucking phone.” Sasha snathes it out of my hands and stands in front of me.
She adjusts my shoulders this way and lifts my chin that way and has me cross my legs. Then she says, “Hold your arm out like you’re taking a selfie,” then positions the phone just so. I give a small smile and she snaps a few photos. She flips through the pictures she took, her hands flying across the screen.
“What are you doing?” I ask her.
“Shh. Just…wait.” She continues to do whatever it is she’s doing then hands it back to me. “Send this one.”
I look at the photo and it looks more like a professional photographer captured a casual moment of me sipping coffee on the couch. I guarantee my photo would havebeen too much forehead or too much boob. This one is perfect.
“Look at you, Miss Photographer,” I compliment.
She pretends to throw her hair off her shoulders and inspects her nails. “What can I say? I’m a woman of many talents.”
I open the text thread and attach the photo and add;
Me:Good luck at your game. I’ll be watching.
I hit send and then drop my phone face down on the couch.
“Aren’t you going to see what he says back?” Sasha’s eyes are wide and in disbelief that I’m not watching my phone for the slightest hint of life from the other end.
“Nope. They were getting ready to take off, so he probably won’t even get it until they land. Let’s just drink our coffee and then go to the farmers market. I want some flowers and honey from that local bee farmer. Remember him?” She watches me with a very sour look on her face. “Oh stop it, Sour Sally. If I sit and wait for his response it will drive me crazy.”
She shakes her head, very disappointed in my lack of desperation, and we drink our coffees. I don’t check my phone even once while we’re at the farmer’s market or evenwhen we go to lunch. It isn’t until I’m showered up that afternoon that I finally let myself check for a response from Cade.
I have my hair wrapped up and my thin robe is tied loosely around my body. I look up into the fogged mirror and say, “Quit being a baby. Just check.”
Picking up my phone I flip it over and have to hold on to the counter when I almost fall flat on my ass.
“Holy fuck!”
