Page 19 of Letters Book Two
My stomach was alive with butterflies and my throat was tight. I stared at my cell phone and drummed my fingers repeatedly on the tabletop.I could get through a simple call, right? Just act normal and say hello.I imagined we’d exchange small talk and then I would tell him I loved him. I wasn’t going to let this man go without at least giving it my best. I love him.I can do this.
Fourth ring and no answer. I was about to click off.
“Hello?” An out of breath voice greeted me. It wasn’t Perry, I knew that.
“Who is this?” I asked.
“It’s Perry Jackson’s cell phone, but this is Chad.”
I hung up.
CHAPTER-EIGHTEEN: Perry
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Chad was sitting at the patio table. My new phone in one hand, a weeding trowel in the other. “Now you’re weeding the flower beds?” Obviously, he liked staying busy.
“I just messed up, Perry. I was potting mums when your phone rang. I just instinctively answered it. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why? Who was it?” My heart skipped a beat... or three. I’d asked him to set the phone up for me earlier at lunch, after it arrived, and then I went inside to shower. “Hey, I’m sure it’s not a big deal. What harm can come of you simply answering the damn phone?”
Chad continued staring at me with puppy-dog eyes. “I think it was him.”
“Him?” I asked. “What him?”
“Lucas. In fact, I’m positive it was.” He brought his hands over his head and locked his fingers together. “Oh, gosh no, I can only imagine what he’s thinking now.”
I grabbed the phone off the table. “Had you finished updating contacts and stuff before the call?” He nodded his head. “Ok, then let me look at the caller ID.” I did, and it was. “Yeah, it was. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! He’s going to assume the worst. I know Lucas, and I know how his mind works.”
“I’m sorry, Perry.” Chad’s lips were pinched as he thought hard. “You have to call him back. Now! Do it fast. He just hung up, he’s there. I know he is still right there waiting.”
“You’re right. What should I say about you?” I asked.
“Tell him the truth. Tell him we’re just friends. That’s the truth, so don’t make some lame excuse.”
“Yeah... you’re right. That is the truth. It looks odd, I know that, but it is true.” I gazed across the lawn.Would I believe me if I heard it?“Ok, here goes nothing.”
“Act calm. Don’t get defensive.”
“I’m not defensive.”
“Yeah, sometimes you are, but stay really calm, ok?” He pointed to my phone. “Sit down, relax. Stay cool and calm.”
“Will you fucking stop that! Now I’m all nervous and shit,” I yelled.
“Ok, yeah. I’m nervous too. Ok, you’re right... yeah. I just don’t want you to fuck this up, Perry.”
“Now, I’mgoing tofuck it up? You are not helping the situation.” I flipped the phone over and glared at the backside of it. “What do I say if he answers? Let’s go over it.”
“No. You can’t sound too rehearsed. You need to be natural. Be calm. Relax,” he answered.
“You’ve said that, Chad. This is getting ridiculous. We sound like Abbott and Costello.”
“Who are they?”
“Jesus! Never mind. Now I’m all worked up and absolutely shouldnotcall him.” I leaned back in the cushioned outdoor patio chair while Chad nervously bit his lower lip and gawked at me. “You’re not helping matters.”
“I’ll leave,” he said.
“No! Don’t do that either.” I had gone from relatively calm, to a fucking teenager trying to ask a date to prom, in less than thirty seconds. “Please sit right there. I need you to be here in case I fumble my words or something worse.”
