Page 109 of The Love Losers

I pull it out, trying not to look too eager, then smile when I see the screen.

Come to me tonight.

I turn away from the others and head into the living room for some privacy before texting back:

With or without panties?

Shit, I hope that wasn’t actually from your mother.

I can neither confirm nor deny who this is.

Can I call you?

No, Mrs. Rosings. Anthony might get the wrong idea. ;-)

And there are people all around me. I’ll see you tonight. I want to properly thank you for the unicorn. It’s GORGEOUS, and its name is Sparklebutt.

You don’t have to thank me. I’m lucky you’re even talking to me.

Oh, but I want to thank you. Also, I hope we’re still doing the bucket lists?

Yes, I think we should.

Five is marrying you.

Kissing’s not enough?

No. Not anymore. Not unless I know I can do it whenever I want.

A fire burns inside of me, and I find myself smiling at the tree for a good ten seconds before I respond.

The feeling is mutual, and I’m stealing your number five. And I know what I want number four to be.

I want to find Joy a lover.

What about Gene?

Very funny.

Follow-up idea: Pat the Snowplow driver? Maybe Joy’s lie to your brother was a manifestation.

A silly grin crosses my face as I type back:

Funny you should say that. He’s exactly who I was thinking about. She’s gotten really into this whole snowplow driver story. The level of conviction suggests she wouldn’t be opposed to giving it a try.

I’ll see what I can do. He gave me his number.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. What’s number four on your list?

Cutting down a tree.

You do know you missed the window on Christmas, right?

Different kind of tree. See you tonight. I’ll be thinking about it all day.

Me too.

“You’re planning a secret rendezvous with Mrs. Rosings?” my brother says gruffly from the other side of the couch. “I don’t much care if you go public with it. I try not to be the judgmental type.”

---