Perfect. I need to go to Tower Bridge. I wonder if she knows she’s going to Tower Bridge. I’m sure she doesn’t actually mean London Bridge.
ALEXANDER
It’s a date.
BEAUTIFUL IVY
Is it, though?
ALEXANDER
It isin my mind.
ALEXANDER
Do you think you’ll be falling asleep soon?
BEAUTIFUL IVY
No. I’m not tired enough, and you’re making my mind spin.
I’m making her mind spin. I love it.
ALEXANDER
Am I? *Grinning emoji*
ALEXANDER
Can I give you a ring?
BEAUTIFUL IVY
I assume you’re not meaning a physical ring… so sure.
I shift to sit against my headboard, then hit call. She takes her time answering, and it makes me wonder what she’s doing.
“Hello.” There’s a grittiness to her voice that wasn’t there this afternoon. I want to hear her every time she sounds like this. What is it about this woman? I’ve never felt this kindof unexplainable need to be near someone. And for this to happen with someone who doesn’t make sense? Someone I basically know nothing about, who lives across the country from me. If I stepped outside of myself and looked at the situation, I’d think I was crackers.
“Hello. Did you all have a nice dinner?” I ask, trying to collect my thoughts. What am I doing? What’s the purpose of this call? To me pursuing her at all?
“We did. I had authentic fish and chips for the first time, and let me tell you, it’s a good thing I don’t live here. That’s the only thing I would ever want to eat.”
“Even for breakfast?”
“Sure. I’d turn it into small fish bites with hash browns. But it would basically be the same.”
“I guess it’s good for your health that you aren’t here indefinitely. How longwillyou be here?”
“Nine more days.”
“What will you do when you get home? What is your typical day?”
“Well, when I get home, I’ll be dealing with renovations from the fire. So not really what I do on a typical day.”
“I’m sure that’s difficult and frustrating, but maybe it’s a chance to start again and fix things that you didn’t love before? I don’t know. Just trying to find something positive about it. Which is easy for me to say.” What am I doing? Stop babbling.
“I still wish it hadn’t happened, but I’m glad I can make some improvements. I thought ... I might as well.”
