“I’m not getting lucky.” I laugh. A one night stand that I pick up at a happy hour does not sound lucky to me. It’s not that I’m holding on to my V card with all my might but I’m sure as hell not going to let it go like that.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, you little slut. I meant lucky as in someone buying our drinks.”
I snort a laugh because she’s a liar. “I’m wearing a shirt with kittens on it,” I remind her as I point to it. We don't have to dress up for work. I could show up in yoga pants and sneaks if I wanted. Today I was in jeans, thankfully.
“Yeah, you scream virgin.” She shakes her head. “Men are into that. They’re going to love your little pussy.” My mouth drops open at her crude words. “You’re such a dirty girl. I’m talking about your shirt.” She smiles like the devil she is. I can’t help but laugh because I love her sassy self.
I roll my eyes ‘cause gross. “I am a virgin.” I sigh.
“’Cause you won’t let me set you up with anyone.” She pouts about that. She is always trying to set me up on dates. I couldn't bring myself to ever do it. I’m shy and the lead-up to the date would be killer. “We could double!”
“Can I think about it?” I know if I don’t try I’ll end up alone knitting every night and hating my job. That sounds so promising.
“You can think about it while you have a cocktail.” She opens the door to Harpo’s for me. We bypass the hostess, going straight for one of the high top bar tables.
“We’ll have our normal,” Amelia tells Charlie, who nods from behind the bar. After my third glass of chardonnay, Amelia has talked me into a double date. I’m a lightweight and she knows it. She tricked me. I might as well go along with it because she’ll be relentless until I do it.
“Okay. I promise this guy is worth it.”
“Then why aren't you dating him?” I take a bite of one of the remaining mozzarella sticks.
“I’m still seeing Sam.” She gives a lazy shrug. “You remember my friend Kim? It’s her brother.”
“The one you went to college with?” I ask, trying to recall.
“Yeah, we don’t hang like we used to. She went and had kids and all that but she is always trying to hook her brother up and he’s hot.” She licks her lips when she talks about this hot brother.
“Hot isn't what I’m looking for.” Okay. It’s not like I want ugly but hot isn’t on the top of my list. To be honest, I don’t know what I’m looking for. My mind flashes to the sexy voice from the phone call earlier this morning. Mr. Kennedy’s voice made me tingle all over. That’s what I am looking for. Instant attraction. I believe that love at first sight crap. I’ve probably read too many romance books and might not be rational about this.
“Okay, well I went to Kim’s for lunch a few weeks ago and he stopped by. You should have seen him with her little boys. I don’t even want kids and he made my panties melt. My reproductive system was begging me to let him impregnate it.” She wiggles her eyebrows. She’s so vulgar sometimes but that’s one part that I love about her. She’s the exact opposite of me and she helps me come out of my shell.
“Then maybe you should move on from Sam and give this guy a chance?” I dip my mozzarella stick in the marinara.
“He didn't even notice me.” She waves her hand, picking up her martini and taking a sip.
“Oh but he’ll notice me?” I laugh, taking another drink of my wine.
“We’re night and day. If I’m not his type then you are.” This is true. We are opposites in every way. Still, Amelia is every man's type. I often wonder why she works in a call center and not as a model. She’s both inwardly and outwardly beautiful once you dig down inside. She has a tough exterior but she's a marshmallow once you get to the center. She is also great at reading people. I didn’t have to dig to get there. With me she is an open book. I think it’s because we get along so well.
“I guess we’ll see when we go on our date. You underestimate yourself. I bet he won’t be able to stop calling you once he meets you.” I roll my eyes at her, knowing that this date idea has disaster written all over it.
5
Max
I spend the first few hours of my morning in my office. I don’t have much that needs my attention and boredom begins to settle in, once again. It’s no better at home in my empty condo. I’ve had trouble concentrating all day. My thoughts keep wandering to the innocent angel that has me all out of sorts. It’s almost ridiculous that a stranger's voice can have me so worked up, to the point that I had to go home and give myself some relief in order to keep my shit together. It didn’t work.