Page 73 of Broken Road

Ruby: Elisavet told them you tried to buy me dolmadakia. Lol. She says you’re very handsome.

Vander: I am very handsome.

Ruby: You have a big head.

Vander: That, too.

I thought he was making a reference to his other head, and I didn’t know how to respond. If I called him on it, he’d tease me mercilessly. Did I want to head into sexual innuendo territory with him? I mean, obviously I wanted to, but should I?

Vander: Stop thinking.

Ruby: Don’t tell me what to do.

Vander: Can I see you today?

Ruby: Are you crazy? Were you not there last night?

Vander: Were you?

Ruby: Yes, I was the one having a panic attack.

Vander: Oh. I thought you were referring to afterwards.

Ruby: You’re very pushy. You’ve grown into your Greekness.

Vander: You better believe it. Better for you to just give in. You’re only going to exhaust yourself fighting me. Can I see you today?

I thought about him sitting in his house by himself and my heart broke a little bit, but if I met up with him, I’d get immediately sucked into his vortex. I wasn’t ready. Though, I admitted to myself that it was inevitable.

Ruby: Sunday is family dinner day. Amber and Alex are coming over.

Vander: Tomorrow?

Ruby: I don’t know.

Vander: Make a plan with me, Ruby-mine, or I’ll show up every day.

Ruby: Hang on! Let me think! I don’t have my planner with me. See? See what you do to me? I never forget my planner. Ever. I once had to take a phone call during a pap smear. You’re making me crazy. I can’t think straight when you’re around.

Vander: You think too much. Today or tomorrow? What’s it going to be?

Ruby: Let me text you later.

Vander: You’ll text me?

I heard the anxiety in his voice in my head.

Ruby: Yes. I promise. After dinner.

Vander: Love you, Ruby-mine. Talk later.

My thumb hovered over the keyboard. I didn’t know what to write.

Vander: Stop thinking.

Ruby: Fuck off!

Vander: I look forward to the time when I can punish you for your insolence.

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