Page 26 of Illicit Illustration

Fourteen: What’s your favorite color?

Seven: Well, that was one way to jump topics. Blue. You?

Fourteen: Aubergine.

Seven: Mine sounds awfully plain next to yours. You like eggplants?

Fourteen: Now you have me giggling. Trying to keep my mind out of the gutter.

Seven: I was asking about the vegetable, naughty girl. Aubergine is the English name for an eggplant.

Fourteen: Yes, I’m aware. And no. Ew. Even breaded and fried, I’d rather have a piece of meat. Put all the meat in my mouth instead.

Seven: Now I’m the one trying to keep my mind out of the gutter.

Fourteen: Do you want to put your meat in my mouth, Seven?

Seven: Desperately. Would you like a pink, meaty hunk?

Fourteen: Of what?

Seven: Steak. Do you like steak? Or are you more of a chicken girl?

Fourteen: Give me your pink meat, you hunk. Lol. I like my meat medium rare. Are you going to cook for me?

Seven: If that’s what you’d like. How does a quiet night in with steaks and wine sound?

Fourteen: Sounds like a…date?

Seven: Definitely a date. I wish we didn’t have to wait. I’d bring you home with me tomorrow if I could.

Fourteen: Maybe we could both make the same meal and eat together? Have any favorite recipes?

Seven: I like your style. We can still date without seeing each other. I’ll text you a recipe in the morning. Maybe we’ll run into each other at the grocery store. I go to the one on Fort Street. Would that be cheating?

Fourteen: I’ll just steal the ingredients from my brother. I live above hisbar.

Shit, she’d expect a response to that.

Seven: Dangerous for you to tell me that. Now I’m going to be hunting down every bar in town trying to figure out which ones have apartments above them.

Fourteen: Not that many bars in town.

Seven: It’s not time yet, Fourteen. Despite how much I want to see you, it’s better if we wait. I’m sorry if I started this with talking about running into each other at the store. I was just teasing.

Fourteen: I don’t want to cut you off, but I’m yawning. I’d rather say good night to you than accidentally fall asleep and leave you hanging.

Seven: Sweet dreams, Fourteen. Mine will be filled with you.

Fourteen: Night.

My heart soared, and I felt like a fucking sap, but I couldn’t help it. I was down bad for this girl, and she didn't even realize her effect on me. But a vibration showing another text came through, and my heart flipped as I read it.

Hazel: If you’re serious about helping me, I’m going to need your motorcycle. And you to be wearing leather pants. Do you own any?

Reid: Yes, to the pants. And in what context do you need my bike in?

Hazel: Is there somewhere indoors we can set up with it? It’s supposed to be freezing for the next week, and I can’t wear what I need to for the shot outdoors.

---