Page 13 of Summer Message

This woman is really growing on me. I can’t wait to meet her in person.

7

Kristina

“This view is amazing.” I sigh as I hold the phone up to my ear.

“Tell me about it.” Matthew tells me.

“Like I said, I have a wraparound porch, and right now I'm sitting on the back steps drinking coffee. The mist is coming off the pond. The sun has risen just over the barn that’s shared on the property between me and my neighbors, the Michaels. The birds are chirping, and the temperature is perfect. I don't need a jacket, but shorts would be too cold. I love it. This makes it all worthwhile taking on this new adventure.” I smile at the cardinal that I see flying around. I murmur to myself. “My Grammy and Grampy.”

They say when you see a cardinal, it's a loved one from heaven coming to say hi. I always talk to them. I feel their presence.

“That sounds perfect. I wish I was there.” His voice is low and sexy.

I smile and the butterflies in my stomach start to flutter again.

“I wish you were here too. It'd be nice to enjoy this with someone.”

“I can't wait for our date. Do we do dinner before bowling or after?” Matthew asks me.

“Why don't we have dinner at the bowling alley if they serve it? I love pizza, burgers, fries, and shakes. I hate sushi.” He laughs.

“Good, because I hate sushi too. I'll find a couple of places online today and we can pick the day and time. I'll even reserve the lane.”

“Sounds great. You should know that I don't really do the makeup, dress thing. I wear the basic necessitates of makeup.” I'm a tomboy, which means I’m very competitive and will kick your ass at bowling. I don't know why I'm telling him all of this, but I want to be honest with him about who I am. “I also don't do secrets. If I have something to tell you, I'm going to tell you. It's a bad trait to have, but eh.” I laugh trying to make sense of things.

“Good to know. I'll be honest with you too. I haven't dated a lot of people in my twenty-three years of living. I've had two serious girlfriends. The first one was in high school, and she cheated on me with the captain of the football team. My most recent one was about three years ago, and she left because she couldn't handle my injury. But to be fair, I was in a bad place. I was angry at everyone.”

My heart goes out to him. “I couldn't imagine what you went through. The pain alone must be excruciating, but to have your dreams taken from you in a matter of seconds… I looked up your accident online. My heart stopped for a second when I saw it.”

“You looked me up?”

I laugh and stutter trying to come up with an excuse to tell him. Now he’s going to think I’m some creepy stalker or something.

“Did you see what I looked like?”

I did and he's pretty good looking.

I grin. “I might've, but you could've changed over the years. If you want, I can send you a picture of me so it's even.”

“No. I want to wait until next week when we finally meet. You'll know me because I haven't changed that much since that video. My head is shaved a little more, but nothing major to write home about.” He laughs. I love his laugh.

It's so comfortable talking to him. I never want to hang up.

“How are you feeling? How’s your face?”

“I'm going to have a tiny scar. The bruising is still there, but the swelling is coming down quite a bit. I have an appointment with my boss to look at my leg. I have my job interview tomorrow at the high school. He knows about my face, but he's happy with me already because he’s seen my record and watched some highlight reels.”

“That's good. I'm going to have to look at some highlight reels too.”

“Sounds like I have a stalker.” Matthew laughs loudly.

“Hardy har har. If you're going to be mean, then I can hang up.” I smart off with a smile on my face.

“I'll call back and I know you'll always answer because you can't resist me and my voice.” That voice goes deeper, which makes me laugh even harder. He's right and he knows it.

Damn it.

---