My brain delayed. What was I supposed to say? Something witty? Nice? Anything would have been better than the silence that just kept getting longer.
“Hello?” she asked again.
“Hey, stranger. I didn’t think you were going to answer.”
“Then why did you call?”
“Well, eleven isn’t a great number; I was trying to go for an even dozen.”
“So, if I had ignored you for one more day you would have given up?”
“Well, twelve is so close to fourteen, why not try for an even two weeks? But then fourteen isn’t that great of a number, so I probably would have tried for twenty-one. I mean that’s a good one—the drinking age of our southern neighbours. Except twenty-five is an even better number, but then twenty-five in terms of days doesn’t really fit. I feel like I could have just kept going. I’m charming enough that you couldn’t ignore me forever.”
I watched her smile grow with every word until she laughed.
“Careful there, Avalanche. I might think you’re obsessed with me or something.”
“Me? Tall, dark, and arrogant? Obsessed?” I scoffed. “Ridiculous. Besides, who stalked who for almost two months? I think you might be obsessed with me.”
She rolled her eyes but her smile stayed.
“I’ll have you know that had everything to do with being worried you might kill me and nothing to do with an obsession. Calm down there, Blondie.”
I shook my head. “If you’re trying to provoke me into changing the subject, it’s not going to work. Now I’msuperconvinced you’re obsessed with me.”
“You wish.” She stepped around her table and closer to the balcony door. She’d catch me if she opened the door, but she didn’t. “I’m not the one who kept calling you while you were clearly ignoring me.”
I stepped closer so we were face to face.
“Look I?—”
“I saw you tonight.”
“What?”
“At Highland Karaoke. I saw you walk in, but I lost sight of you a minute later. Did you stay?” She smiled softly. “Did you hear the one girl try to hit that high note? It’s been December first for less than two hours and I’m already sick of Christmas music.”
I chuckled. “So you’re a hater?”
“To my core.” Her smile turned to a full blown grin. “What about you, Blondie?”
“Oh, same. No one is a bigger hater than me.”
“Of all things? Or just Christmas music?”
“Of most things.”
She brought her hand up to the door, smile falling from her face as she ran her fingers over the glass. It was almost like she knew I was there. She couldn’t, right? “I think that’s why we get along so well.”
I put my hand on the other side of the glass where she was running her finger. I felt her heat through the door.
“Violet—”
“It’s late. I should get to bed. Goodnight, Avalanche.”
“Wait. You still haven’t told me about your naughty book.”
Anything to get her smile back. To keep her talking to me.
