“Will do.”
Alex tips his hat. “Well, I best get going. Thank you for the wonderful meal, guys. You guys are fantastic.”
I’m surprised to see Jacob shake his hand and smile genuinely as they say their goodbyes.
As soon as the door slams shut, I turn to Jacob. “So you like him now? You’re not jealous?”
He laughs. “No, he’s just a poor schmuck. Actually, he and I have a lot in common, still pining for women who won’t have anything to do with us.”
And with those words, he turns and leaves me to head to his bedroom.
I’m tossing and turning,still reeling from the night. I stare up into the darkness, a smile on my face. Finally, when I’ve come to terms with the fact that I won’t be falling asleep anytime soon, I turn on the lamp on the nightstand. I reach for my phone and check my emails… nothing interesting. I browse through my Facebook feed out of pure boredom. Alex’s last words suddenly come back to me, and I search for his page. I scroll down his feed, taking in all the beautiful pieces he’s created. The man is truly talented.
I press on the thumbs up icon, liking his page. It’s the least I can do. I’ve gone deep down the rabbit hole of Facebook — I’m doing one of those quizzes. Which animal is your spirit animal? I’m not sure why I even bother to take the test — my spirit animal is clearly the cat — I’m curious, fussy, aloof, and I love my naps.
A notification pops up — a new friend request. I quickly check to see who could be friending me this late at night, and my heart skips a beat when I see Alex’s name. Alex Miller. Great name. I accept straight away, giddy. Really, it’s shameful how excited I am.
A few seconds later, I receive a message from him.
Hey Corrie, so great to see you on Facebook. Glad we’re friends. I had a great night tonight!!
I don’t hesitate too long before replying.
Me too. It was fun. I was just checking out your page. Great stuff!! You are really talented.
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Awww… thank you.
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Really, I am serious. As soon as I get home, I’m taking the measurements of my dining room. Maybe I could swing by tomorrow to go over the details… select the base and go over the costs.
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Wow!!! Thank you so much. Yes, for sure. Let’s meet tomorrow. When’s a good time for you?
I mull it over for a second or two.
How about after lunch? One o’clock?
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Perfect! See you then.
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See you then.
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Goodnight, Corrie! Thank you for accepting my friend request. See you tomorrow. :)
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Goodnight!
I click off messenger with a silly grin on my face. I head straight back to Facebook to stalk his personal page. Lots of photos of him working on his furniture. A few pics of his family. He has a sister who looks a lot like him. He likes beer, the Chicago Blackhawks and shooting pool.
Okay, so maybe he’s not into reading books and strumming on the guitar, writing songs, luxury cars, motorcycles, or travel like Jacob. Not all men can be intellectual nerds with a dash of bad boy. I really need to stop comparing everyone to Jacob. Alex is refreshing. He’s a laid back ‘it is what it is’ kind of guy. He’s young and free. He probably doesn’t have a portfolio and a drawer of perfectly rolled up socks like Jacob does.
Damn, I’m doing it again… comparing. I shake my head and turn my attention back to Alex’s page. That’s when I see her… Sandra, the love of his life. I’m struck by how much she looks like… me. She could be my younger sister — a petite blue-eyed blonde; same hair, face shape, body type, similar eyes and smile.
Apparently, Alex has a type. Or perhaps I just remind him of her.
I check the time: 2:36 AM. I turn off my phone and throw it on the end of my bed. Enough of this… I’m acting like a silly teenager.
As soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m out, drifting from thoughts of Alex and Jacob into peaceful slumber.
