Page 60 of Safer Alone
I wander out to the taxi rank. As I walk toward one of the free cabs, a group of people pass me taking all of the waiting cars. Slightly annoyed, I wait for the next one to arrive; thankfully it doesn’t take too long. The ride home is pretty short, and I pay the cabbie before hopping out and starting up the staircases toward my unit.
I slip my key into the lock and wander straight in, dropping my bags on the floor. I close and lock the door behind me before wandering into the kitchen and seeing the small wrapped box on the kitchen counter. A simple black paper with a white fabric ribbon fastened around it. I pull the bow which falls apart, I then run my finger underneath a free part of paper and pull it to open. It tears. Inside I see a red double decker bus. A huge smile spreads across my face. Elliot’s souvenir he brought me back from London.
I pick up my phone and send a quick message:
<: Thank you for my present. I LOVE it x
I put my phone down on the kitchen counter and turn to the fridge. I pull out the carton of orange juice and pour myself a glass and then take it with me along with my bags into the bedroom. I set to task, unpacking my bags. I place all of my clothes into the washing machine and stow my empty bag on the top shelf of the linen closet and head to the living area. I turn the television on and settle on an episode of Law and Order SVU. After a few minutes I realize that this is one that I haven’t seen, and for the next forty minutes I don’t move, waiting to see who is the culprit. I’m happy when Benson slaps the cuffs on him.
The five o’clock news comes on, nothing of great importance, which is always a relief. I hope I never turn on the news and see something horrific; unfortunately it happens from time to time. When the sport segment comes on, I hop up from my comfortable spot and make my way into the kitchen, I open the freezer and find a container of macaroni and cheese with vegetables. I place it into the microwave and turn it on for five minutes. While I am waiting for it to defrost, I pick my phone back up, Elliot has replied:
<: You’re welcome. Have a good evening. If you get lonely, feel free to call me :)
It takes everything in me not to call him, even though I would love to hear his melodic voice on the other end of the line. I instead decide to flirt, from the safety of my own home:
<: Sooo, I sent you a photo earlier, care to send me one? It will help over the next two weeks.
I stare at the phone after I hit send waiting for a reply. The ping of the microwave scares me. I drop my phone onto the counter and retrieve my meal. I pull a spoon out of the cutlery drawer and stir. I dip my nose closer to the pasta and take a sniff, it smells amazing. I scoop an amount onto the spoon and lift it to my mouth, blowing on it before depositing it into my mouth, it tastes fantastic. I fill a glass with water from the faucet before sitting at the table with them both.
When I finish I take the dirty dishes to the sink and wash, dry, and put them away. Then I look at my phone, hoping that he has replied. Unlocking the screen, I see he has sent me a message:
<: There are so many already on the internet, none of them take your fancy?
Just as I am about to tap out a reply a photo comes through. I open it to enlarge it to full screen. He is still in his sweater from earlier and his hair is a little messy, a small smile is across his face. It looks like he is sitting in an office, but not his home one. I love it. He looks so handsome. It’s so him, the relaxed side of him that I have spent time with over the weekend. The one that I am falling hard for.
<: I love that photo, thank you for sending it through x
I quickly save the photo to my gallery then set it as his contact photo, along with my home screen, that way I can look at it all the time. His reply is instantaneous:
<: <: No worries, baby.
There is that word again, baby. I liked it. Thankful for the nickname, I guess it means that I am his girlfriend? I would have to ask him, not now, maybe in a couple of days when we Skype. Just then another message comes through:
<: Mind if I call you?
He wants to call me. That’s a good thing. I find myself wanting to hear his voice.
<: Sure, I’m free.
It hasn’t been any more than a minute before my phone starts ringing. I answer it, a smile on my face.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. How was your flight?”
Elliot’s voice is so masculine. It’s deep, strong, it reminds me of Josh Turner. Such a sensual voice. It makes me weak at the knees.
“It was fine. It’s so good to hear your voice.”
I slap my forehead as soon as I say it. A light chuckle sounds through the phone.
“It’s really good to hear your voice, too, baby.”
My smile enlarges even more so.
“Baby, hey? Is that my pet name?”
Once again I say something without thinking
