I made sure my cell was completely charged. I paced my bedroom, looking at the clock every five seconds.
Butterflies were fluttering in my stomach and I couldn’t get my palms to stop sweating. I’d never been so nervous about a phone call in my life, not even when Sean and I began dating.
At exactly nine o’ clock my phone sounded. I waited a couple seconds before picking it up.
“Hello?”
“Hey Melody,” his voice was deep and sultry. “How are you?”
“I’m okay. You?”
“Tired. I’m on my way back home.”
“From Selena’s?” I slapped my forehead with my palm.
He laughed. “You’re not the trusting type are you? No, I only see Selena once a week for photo opps. I was in Philly for a book signing.”
“Oh. Your biography that came out last week?”
“Yeah. Destined for the Screen.”
“How did you find the time to write a book?”
“I didn’t,” he sighed. “A ghostwriter did most of it. We spoke three hours a week and she crafted my story out of that.”
“Well in that case, I don’t feel so bad about giving it one and a half stars.”
We both laughed. I snuggled underneath a blanket and listened to him tell me about his day, about his life. Before I knew it, it was three in the morning and I didn’t want to get off the phone. I wanted our conversation to last forever.
“Tell me something,” he paused. “Was your ex-fiancé the only guy you seriously dated?”
“Pretty much. I met him when I was a freshman in college and the rest is you know…”
“Not even in high school?”
“My parents didn’t allow me to date,” I laughed at the memory. “They even made me go to prom alone. What about you? Is Selena your first serious engagement?”
“I’ve never been seriously engaged, but before Selena there was my old publicist, Lisa.”
“What happened?”
“Turns out that whole ‘never mix business with pleasure’ thing is true. If we had an argument she wouldn’t book me for crucial appearances. So in return, I wouldn’t show up to some of the things she promised to her client friends. It was really messy. I fired her and we broke up.”
“What about Joan? She’s really pretty…”
“She is really pretty,” I could sense him smiling. “Joan is also completely professional and not attracted to me at all.”
“How do you know?”
“Whenever I’m drunk she tells me all the things she hates about me. And she told me she isn’t attracted to me.”
I laughed. “Was there anyone serious before Lisa?”
“Not really, unless you want a detailed list of models and groupies.”
“I’m okay,” I rolled my eyes.
“Is red your natural hair color?”
We didn’t get off the phone until five o’ clock. I wasn’t tired though, I was running off adrenaline.
The next few days at work, I cruised through my assigned books and films. I was excited about spending my nights talking to Matt on the phone.
On Thursday night, we spoke until six o’clock. The only reason we stopped was because he needed to board a plane back to New York and Joan wanted to prep him for an interview.
When we hung up, I did something I’d never done in my six years of working at The New York Appeal: I called in sick. My adrenaline had run out.
I woke up around noon and played my voice mails.
“Melody, I’m so sorry to hear that you’re sick,” Mr. Maxwell’s voice was soft. “Let me know if you need anything. Call or text me when you get this.”
“Mel! I finally finished my thesis!” Jenn screamed. “Me and my friend Josh are going out to the bar tonight. Five dollar jumbo jello shots if you’re interested! I’ll buy you two!”
“Miss Carter, I’ll have the books from your office sent over to you for the weekend. Feel better soon,” Sophie sounded really concerned.
“Hey Melody,” Matt’s voice was a whisper. “Your assistant said you were out sick so I’m assuming we’ll need to reschedule our date? Call me back when you can and I hope you feel better.”
I remembered why I never called in. I sucked at lying and people worried too much.
I called Mr. Maxwell back first, telling him that I’d definitely be back to work on Monday. I turned down Jenn and her jumbo-jello shots, but promised I would take her out to celebrate next week. I thanked Sophie for her hard work and let her know she didn’t need to send those books.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to call Matt. He mentioned that he had another busy day ahead of him and I didn’t want to interrupt.
As much fun as I’d had talking to him the past couple of nights, I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to come over.
I was scared he was starting to get close, and I was developing feelings for him.
I sent him a text: “I’m okay. Yeah, I may not be up to a date tonight. Raincheck?”
I grabbed a bag of cheese puffs from the kitchen and slouched on my sofa. It was time to turn my brain off and watch reality TV.
Matt texted me back two hours later: “Would you like me to cook you some soup?”