Page 33 of Love You Madly

ThatPipeGuy3.14:

Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?

ChaosCallie:

Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve gone through a lot in this pregnancy already so as bland of an answer as this is, I really just want the baby to be healthy.

ThatPipeGuy3.14:

I wouldn’t say that is a bland answer. Seems pretty straightforward to me.

ChaosCallie:

I guess for the sake of timing, I would say it would be easier for me to have a girl because I still have most of the things I need because my daughter Sara isn’t quite a year old yet. If I’m having a boy, I do have some stuff that I could still use like a camouflage crib set.

ThatPipeGuy3.14:

You…. have a camo crib set…? That’s…

ChaosCallie:

AWFUL?! I know, but my soon-to-be ex-husband insisted.

ThatPipeGuy3.14:

He sounds like a real tool, if you don’t mind me saying so.

ChaosCallie:

Nope, you’re spot on.

Hey, I’ve got toget to bed. Sara is an early riser and this app is draining my phone battery for some reason.

I get up from the couch and wander over to the window, looking out at the quiet street below. The light of the streetlamps casts a soft glow, and I feel a pang of disappointment that our conversation is ending so soon. I take another sip of my whisky and glance around my empty apartment when my phone pings again.

ChaosCallie:

If you’re not a total creep, you can text me tomorrow.

I chuckle at her bluntness and head back to the kitchen to rinse my glass. It’s been a while since I felt this kind of connection, even through a screen. I immediately add the phone number that she gave me into my contacts.

ThatPipeGuy3.14:

Sure, I can do that. Have a good night, Callie.

ChaosCallie:

Sweet dreams, Owen.

I put my phone down, feeling an unexpected anticipation for tomorrow. There’s something about Callie that makes me want to keep the conversation going. Her honesty, humor, and warmth have drawn me in like no one has in a long time. I glance at the clock, realizing how late it’s gotten, but the excitement buzzing in my chest makes it hard to settle down.

I lay back on the couch, staring at the ceiling, reflecting on the evening. The date with Heather felt forcedand uncomfortable. There were no real sparks, just the awkward politeness of two people trying too hard to find a connection that wasn’t there. But with Callie… there was something genuine.

I pick up my phone again, reading back through our messages, smiling at her wit and openness. It’s in reading back the messages that I realize we didn’t even really get that “into the weeds,” with our conversation. Yet, I feel like at the very least, there’s potential for a friendship there.

Did I just fucking friendzone myself?

I look back at her profile one more time and realize that it would probably be difficult to find the time to meet her in person. Between Barrett and my job, I don’t really have time for much else.

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