Page 32 of The Dallas Dilemma

I close the app before waiting for a reply and set my phone to silent before responding to the customer. I work on autopilot as my mind wanders back to Dallas. The thought of us becoming more, of actually being in a relationship doesn’t fill me with anxiety like it would with someone else I just met. He’s proven that heseesme. He sees the real me, with all my idiosyncrasies, and he’s not backing away.

When I finish with my customer, I push out of my chair and head into the kitchen for a fresh cupof coffee. While it brews, I pat my hair and look down at myself. I normally work in pajamas or sweats. It’s one of the perks of working from home. But today? Today, I showered, shaved, and blow-dried my hair into fat waves before getting dressed in a nice pair of jeans and a boatneck sweater.

You know, on the off-chance Dallas might stop by on his lunch break, or something.

It’s silly, I know. It’s his first day on the job. Of course, he’s not going to just stop by. But just in case, I wanted to look decent.

When I get back to my desk, I check my phone to see responses from the girls to my last message, encouraging me to really think about introducing them to Dallas and ensuring me everything will be okay.

There’s also a message from the man, himself. My heart skips a beat as I open the thread and read his text.

Dallas:Good morning. Just wanted to let you know I’m having a great first day so far, and I hope yours is going just as well.

Another customer request comes through before I can respond, so I set my phone aside. A flurry of chats initiate one after the other after that, and an hour passes before I get a break. Reading Dallas’ text again, I type out a response.

Me:I’m so glad it’s going well. My morning has been busy, but at least it makes the time go by faster.

I send the message and set my phone down, and my eyebrows jack up when my phone chimes with an immediate response from Dallas. I assumed I’d have to waituntil he had another free moment. Picking the phone back up, I read his reply.

Dallas:We have so much time, and so little to do.

Me:Ha! Willy Wonka. Gotta try harder to get one over on me.

Dallas:All right. All right. I’ll try harder next time. I need to get back to work, but I’ll text you later.

Me:Okay. Talk to you later.

Dallas:Bye, Josette.

Me:Bye, Dallas.

There’s no use fighting the smile on my face, which sticks around for the rest of my shift. I’m the victor against the impulse to check my phone for more messages the whole day, but at five o’clock, the second I’ve logged out of my work system, I stop fighting the urge and check it. I’m not disappointed when I see a message Dallas sent fifteen minutes ago.

Dallas:Hey. Linc’s insisting on taking me out for an early dinner to celebrate my first day, but are you busy later? I’d love to see you.

Me:I’d like that.

Dallas:Great. My place? I can shoot you a text after I get home and get cleaned up.

Me:Sounds good. See you then.

Dallas:I can’t wait.

Closing out my thread with him, I quickly pull up the one between Twila and me.

Me:Help! Dallas invited me over tonight to hang out, and I need an outfit. Can you come over and help me choosesomething?

I don’t have to wait long for her reply.

Twila:No. You come here. You can pick something out of my closet.

I grin as my thumbs fly over my phone’s screen.

Me:Thanks, Bestie! I’ll be there in ten.

Twila’s a bit taller than me, so none of her pants or jeans will work, but she has a closet full of dresses thanks to her work as a fashion and beauty influencer on BingBang. Her videos always go viral, and she has over four million followers, so designers send her samples all the time in hopes that she’ll give them a shout-out in one of her videos.

Her internet stardom also means she’s the only one of our friend group who owns her own house. It’s on the edge of town and boasts a large yard with a swimming pool with a built-in hot tub. I make it to her house with a minute to spare, and the front door swings open as I approach like she was there the whole time, waiting for me.

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