Page 59 of Something Good
UNKNOWN
This is S. Jo. Please call to schedule your welding session
Short and to the point. Sammy had never been a man of many words. I quickly added him to my contacts.
The time stamp indicated the message had only come in about ten minutes ago. Was he also having difficulty sleeping? Or did he just keep odd hours as an artist? Surely he didn’t want me to call at this hour? Did he know the person he was texting wasme?
I set my phone down. This was the kind of conversation that could wait until morning.
Less than ten seconds passed before I picked the phone back up with a huff. I definitely wasn’t going to be able to sleep now. I’d be debating my response the rest of the night.
I stared at my phone, at that little ribbon of space where the letters showed up as you typed. Did I tell him it was me, or did I let him figure it out when I showed up for the session? Was I really going through with this?
Fuck. I scrubbed my hand over my face. This was ridiculous. We were grown-ass adults, a couple of years away from thirty. I didn’t want to play games. And if I didn’t do this, I had a feeling I’d spend the rest of my life wondering.
Sammy I know it’s you
This is Will
I know
You knew it was me and you still want to go through with the session?
I watched as the three dots appeared and disappeared before a message finally came through.
Did you know it was me when you bid on the session?
No. I
Shit. I accidentally hit enter before finishing the text.
?
You what?
I figured it out after
Your work is amazing. I was drawn to it
Thank you
I waited as more dots floated and disappeared.
Do you still want to do the session now that you know who I am?
Do you?
I’m game if you are
I’m game
This was insanity. My hands were shaking and my chest squeezed at the thought of seeing him again. But it wasn’t all anxiety. It was nerves, and fear, and curiosity, and…anticipation.
Thursday? 6:00?
I clicked into my calendar app as if I had any social life to worry about, then responded.
That works
