Page 31 of Dare You to See Me
SG:That's why I’m here.
K:I mean, with our voices.
I pause, my fingers frozen on the keyboard. He can’t possibly mean a phone call. I don’t want to give him my phone number. That’s just inviting trouble to have a seat at my table.
SG:Sorry. I don’t think giving you my phone number is a very wise decision. We can stay here.
K:No need to exchange phone numbers. We can video call right through this. Just turn on your camera and accept my invitation to join. What do you say?
I push away from my desk, transfixed on the words as my heart thumps in my ears. He wants tovideochat? I look down at my clothes and see my mismatched pajamas. Pink shorts with white polka dots are paired with a yellow tank top with little white flowers all over it. I have no makeup on, my hair is pulled up into a sort of bun, and if I looked in the mirror right now, I could almost guarantee I have chocolate ice cream smeared on my chin.
K:Sunny? Are you there?
SG:Yes. I’m here. I just…I don’t look presentable. Maybe another time. Like when I have time to do my hair and makeup.
K:Don’t be silly. I bet you look gorgeous. C’mon. I’ve got on a ratty old concert shirt and basketball shorts.
My hands shake, my legs tremble, and my nipples harden to stiff peaks thinking about seeing him. Talking to him. I hop up from my chair and run to the mirror hanging in the hallway. Licking my thumb, I swipe away the small bit of ice cream and decide my hair is best left as is. Lying on the back of my desk chair is a CFU sweatshirt, so I throw it over my tank top. In my desk drawer is a tube of chapstick that I quickly rub over my lips, and a tin of cinnamon Altoids that I pop into my mouth for no other reason than I’m nervous.
A few minutes have passed and I still have yet to respond to King.
SG:I guess that would be okay.
The screen on the laptop changes, and a blurred picture appears. At the last minute, I grab my EarPods and stick them in, worried I may wake Dahlia, then hit accept, watching the screen morph into a clear view of him.
“H-hi,” I greet him, my voice as shaky as my body.
“Wow. You’re even more beautiful than your pictures.” His deep voice is once again muffled as he wears his helmet, stealing away my ability to put a face to the voice.
I drop my eyes, embarrassed by the compliment. “So the helmet…”
“Stays on, Sunny girl. Sorry. I need to keep some secrets about me.”
“So what can you tell me? If you have to hold your cards close to your chest.” I pull my knees up on the chair and wrap my arms around my knees, resting my chin on them.
He leans back in his seat and I see his room is dark, a soft blue illumination outlining his figure. “Well, I ride bikes. I love good music. And I enjoy reading.”
My eyes light up hearing all of this. Aside from the bikes, music and books are my love languages. “Are you reading anything right now?”
He leans off to the side and reaches for something off camera. When he’s in full view again, he flips a book around to show me. Immediately my lip gets trapped between my teeth as I try to hold back the smile.
“A Love Letter to Whiskeyby Kandi Steiner? Not what I expected a guy like you to be reading.”
He tilts his head with a small laugh. “What kind of book did you expect? And what do you mean a guy like me? Explain yourself, Sunny girl.”
I hold my finger up in front of the camera and spin my chair around. Waking over to the small bookshelf in the corner, I grab the well-loved book then return. I slowly reveal my book and this time his laugh is louder and heartier.
“Great minds,” he tells me of our matching books. “Your turn. Tell me something about you, Sunny.”
“Um…” I grow nervous, wondering how much I should reveal to this stranger. “I like 80’s movies and I have a slight addiction to pistachio almond ice cream.”
“Mmm,” he growls and I clench my thighs with the low rumble. “That sounds delicious. Can I confess something?”
I do this weird shake-nod thing and mutter, “uh-huh.”
“I’ve thought about what you taste like. I bet you’re sweeter than ice cream. Are you?”
“I-I don’t, um…I don’t know.” I’m flustered and hot and my nipples harden as I fumble with my words.
