Just Friends Ch. 01

I flipped open my phone and sent a reply to Tony. Thank you. I thought about the way his eyes twinkled when he looked at me and smiled at the woman in the mirror. Things are gonna change, I silently vowed to myself as I rummaged through the closet for a blanket. The phone vibrated again, its movement across the edge of the sink sent it perilously close to falling. I snatched it up, turned off the light and slipped from the bathroom wrapped in a wool blanket. The only illumination in the house filtered in the front window from the streetlamp on the corner. Reflections of blue loneliness bounced off the stark white walls of the living room. The blanket felt scratchy against my skin but kept the chill away as I tucked its heavy folds around me and settled myself on the couch. When I opened up the text an animated teddy bear wearing a red shirt blew me a kiss.

You make me smile, the message read.

Tony White, you make me smile too. What's your middle name? The phone glowed like a candle, warm and bright in the cold room.

It's Ray, lol. What's yours? His question was followed by a smiley face. My shoulders shook with the soft chuckle that escaped me.

It's Leigh. My full name is Ellen Leigh Monroe, but my maiden name is Benton. I exhaled slowly and shut my eyes. The vibrations tickled my hand again.

Do you want it to be White? I stared at the phone, unable to comprehend his question at first. What? Oh my god. He's joking right? He has to be, I'm still married. He's mocking the fact that I'm married. But what if he's serious? Tony told me about his anniversary dinner with his ex wife; how he'd proposed again and she'd said no. But the idea of marriage was not something I was ready to consider.

LOL. It's a bit soon for that, isn't it? Ask me again in two years. I pressed the send button satisfied with my response. If he still excites me in two years the way he does now, who knows? He had to be joking. And yet he already knew more about me than my husband did. I already trusted him more than any man I'd ever known. I'm going crazy I concluded and adjusted my position on the couch. Time to sleep if possible. Buzz! Buzz! The phone came alive in my hand and I opened one eye to read the incoming text.

Ok was his single word reply. I snorted. Knowing my luck he'll probably have forgotten all about me by then.

Ok. Time for me to go to sleep, I have a long drive tomorrow. Goodnight sexy. I added a smiley face of my own and sent the message.

Goodnight hon. See you in my dreams. The phone snapped shut in my hand and I tucked it in the cushion beside my head. Sure, dream about me. I've only been dreaming about you for the last week. I knew a line when I heard it; or read it in this case but it made me smile anyway. My back still ached. My toe throbbed when I shifted on the sofa and bumped it against the cushion. The conversation with Tony calmed me however and the brief escape of slumber finally gave me some peace.