A/N: Thanks for the feed back. Things are about to get interesting.
When I called Marissa at lunchtime, something was different. There was someone talking in the background.
"Where are you?" I ask. It was often the first thing I said because I liked to be able to envision her either sitting at "our place" or lying on her bed.
"You really don't want to know," she replied, sounding somewhat embarrassed.
"Yeah I do," I teased.
It was so good to hear her voice. Over the last few weeks, since we'd been talking, her whole demeanor had changed. She wasn't the sad sorry girl that I'd started speaking to. She had some spark back in her voice. I'm sure that I sounded the same when I was talking to her.
"I'm in San Bernardino."
I was surprised.
"Doing what?" I asked and waited patiently for an answer.
"Don't laugh?"
"Would I do that?" I teased.
"Yes," she responded quickly. "If you want me to tell you, then you have to promise not to laugh."
"How can I promise that when I don't even know what it is? It might be something hilarious and I won't be able to help myself."
Marissa chuckled.
"K, why are you now laughing at me?" I ask.
"Because the thought of you finding anything hilarious is amusing. Just getting you to smile is hard enough."
"That's not true," I say, defensively.
"Ryan?"
"Okay. So I'm not known for the big belly laugh. That just confirms that it's highly unlikely that I'm going to laugh at you, so you should feel safe in telling me. Where exactly are you and what are you doing?"
She hesitated for a moment before she spoke.
"I'm at a photographer's studio. Some guy that Mom heard was the best of the best. She's been on my back about spending the summer sitting around doing nothing, pretty funny considering that's what she's been doing all summer. She's arranged for me to have some professional photos done to make up a portfolio. She thinks I might make a good model. I figured I'd humor her. Anything to get her off my back."
"And why would you think that I'd find that funny?"
"Because."
"Because?" I question.
"I don't know. Because models are supposed to be attractive and stuff."
"You know that you're attractive. Hell … you're gorgeous," I point out, stating the obvious. My voice caught on the last words as I thought about the fact that she was once mine. I'd destroyed the chance that we'd had.
"Thanks," she responded shyly, "You're not so bad yourself."
There were a few moments of awkward silence until she finally broke it with a suggestion.
"I wondered if it might be okay for me to come by to visit on my way home this afternoon. I should be finished here about five, so, depending on the traffic, I'd be at Theresa's about five thirty."
"I ah … I won't be there. I'm supposed to be having a drink with the guys from work."
"Oh."
I could hear the disappointment in her voice.
"I'm not even sure if Theresa will be there. She spoke about going to the movies with her Mom."
"I see. I guess it was a bad idea. It was just that I would be in the area."
She tried to sound as if she didn't really care, but I could tell that she was disappointed.
There was another awkward silence. All I could think about was the opportunity to see her. Who knows when, or even if that would ever happen again? I contemplate entertaining her at Theresa's without her there, but that seems totally wrong.
"Maybe we could meet up for coffee or something?" I suggested.
"Or I could just come to the bar?" she teased.
I could just imagine the reaction that I'd get from the guys from work if Marissa waltzed in to the bar.
"Sorry, you're underage," I pointed out.
"And you're not?" she teased.
When did she get so smart?
"It's coffee or nothing," I offer.
"Coffee sounds great."
I smile to myself as I try to wrap my head around the idea that I'm going to see her in the flesh this very afternoon.
"Ryan? Are you still there?" she prompts.
I'd gotten lost in my daydream.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"Where should I meet you? Do you want me to come to the bar?"
"No. I'll meet you on the corner of Elm and 13th. Can you pick me up?"
"Sure."
I can hear the smile in her voice.
"I have a new car. It's a red Mustang. I thought that you should know, just in case some other female tries to pick you up."
"Thanks. I doubt that will happen."
"You underestimate your appeal," Marissa teased.
"I'll be in my work clothes and filthy dirty. I doubt that anyone could find anything appealing about that."
"I know I will," she replied quickly.
I gulped. I could feel my body respond. It seemed so long since I flirted with a girl, any girl. And my dick was way out of practice. Not that the opportunity wasn't there with Theresa; she would have loved me to go for it.
It was more that I couldn't even begin to consider it. It was what led me back to Chino in the first place.
There was no right thing for me to say in response so I mutter a confirmation.
"I'll see you at five thirty?"
"Looking forward to it."
tbc