Page 42 of Hello, Listener
“Who cares how it looks? The guy is sexy as hell, and it’s not like you and Lee are official or whatever the fuck people call it these days.” He leans his elbow on the bar, propping his head up using his hand.
“Well,I don’t know…” My voice quietly trails off.
“What the hell do you mean, you don’t know?”
“He told me that I was his, but didn’t say much after that. I thought it was just something he said in the moment, you know?” I look up at Jace, questioning the whole situation.
“Wait… what the fuck do you mean, he told you that you were his?”
“Just that. He used his sexy deep voice, leaned in and said, ‘You’re perfect and you’re mine.’” I answer, using my best Lee impression.
“Fuck, that’s hot. Damn it, Thalia, why the fuck do you get two sexy as hell men trying to sleep with you?” Jace laughs. “What’s it like living my dream?”
“I didn’t ask for this…” I look up, grinning at my best friend.
“Yeah, bitch, but you aren’t complaining either.” He stands up and walks towards the other end of the bar.
Three A.M. comes faster than I would have expected. After counting down the drawer and wiping off the tables, it's time for Janice to lock up. Alan will be here in fifteen minutes to escort me to, I assume, a twenty-four-hour diner to get coffee. My stomach growls in anticipation.Okay, maybe I’ll get a cheeseburger and fries too.
I walk into the bathroom in the corner of the bar and look in the small mirror above the white porcelain sink to do my best to prepare. I smooth out my somewhat wrinkled shirt and run my fingers through my loose waves. My hands reach into my black purse and fish out my bright red lipstick, touching up the corners of my mouth, spreading out the red paint onto my lips.This will have to do.
“Are you ready for your date with Alan?” Jace asks, meeting me at the bathroom door.
“It’s not a date. Just a cup of coffee between friends,” I reply while walking past him, nudging his arm on the way out.
“Then why did you need to get all sexy in there?”
“I just touched up my makeup. Nothing sexy here.” I gesture to all of me.
“You’re not fooling anyone. You added your ‘fuck me’ red lipstick.” He points to my lips.
“What?! I always wear this lipstick.”
“Yeah, for tips. But now you’re meeting Alan, so… it’s turned into you looking sexy for your date. Which turns into your ‘please fuck me, Alan’ lipstick.” His impression of me is horrible.
“I promise you, Jace, itisn’ta date.” His words echo in my head as I walk towards the front, waiting for Janice to lock up.
Dark Signs
I sit in my car across the street from The Neon Rose so that I can watch Thalia. Her arms are folded across her chest, and her purse hangs on her shoulder over her leather jacket. Strumming my fingers on my black steering wheel, smiling, I watch Janice, Jace, and Thalia exit the bar.
I get out of my car quickly as if I am a teenage boy filled with butterflies about to pick up my date for prom and head towards her, picking up the pace as I watch her get closer to the sidewalk. Her bright red lips turn into a smile as the distance between us closes.Your desperation is showing, Alan.
“Hey!” She yells as she sees me approaching the curb.My heart just skipped a beat.
“Hey, are you ready?” I ask, gazing a little too long at her full lips.
“Y-yeah, let’s go.” I grab her free hand to lead her across the street to my car. She nods at Jace and Janice before making the step out onto the road. They both return her gesture with smiles of their own and climb into their taxi.
I direct her to my silver Lexus and open her door. The corners of her mouth move up, and she slides into the black leather seat.Like the gentleman I am, I shut her door after I notice her black combat boots were safely tucked in the car. Quickly, I walk to the other side and climb into my seat.
“So… coffee?” I ask, turning on the ignition.
“Yes. Coffee sounds good.” She shyly places her purse on her lap. “So, where are you taking me?” Her voice is quiet.
“Just this little diner, not too far from here. They stay open pretty late, and I figured you would be hungry after your shift.” My focus stays on the road.
“Very,” she pauses. “You’re still in your work clothes.” Her eyes scan my lap down to my dress shoes. My body grows hot at the way she runs her eyes down my form.
