Page 35 of Only After We Met
Tell me about your first day at work.
Kisses, kisses, kisses. (I feel them!)
From: Ginger Davies
To: Rhys Baker
Subject: I wish someone would kidnap me
The subject line sums up my first day at work. Honestly, I feel kind of guilty because Dad was so proud and excited… He blushes at times like this. When he introduced me to the staff, he looked like he’d had a sunstroke. Fortunately it passed.
I felt good and bad at the same time.
Good because he was happy. Bad because I didn’t want to be there.
I know what you mean now about that night being different. But that makes me wonder something. I’m just going to blurt it out and hit Send without rereading this message, okay? Otherwise I’ll regret it. Do you think, if the circumstances were different, the same thing could have happened with us? I don’t want to put you on the spot. You can be honest with me. I have my own ideas. I just want to know if you’d have noticed me if you saw me in a bar.
I’m going to send this before I stop myself.
Don’t pay me any mind.
From: Rhys Baker
To: Ginger Davies
Subject: [No subject]
Ginger, Ginger, Ginger…
From: Ginger Davies
To: Rhys Baker
Subject: RE: [ No subject]
What the hell does that mean?
From: Rhys Baker
To: Ginger Davies
Subject: What it means
It means there are some questions better left unanswered. But if you can’t bear the intrigue, the answer’s yes. If I’d met you in a bar and the circumstances were different, I’d have probably come over, we’d have had a drink, and we’d have talked. And then, I don’t know, I’d have bent over and whispered in your ear. And I’d have stroked your knee under the table. We’d have wound up in my apartment, but instead of eating noodles sitting on the bed, I’d have kissed you all over until you moaned my name. And then I’d have taken my time memorizing every inch of your naked skin. Every freckle. Every mole. Every scar. Every curve.
But you know what? I’m glad that didn’t happen. Because what we have is a thousand times better, and I don’t have it withanyone else. This friendship of ours is special. Now it would be best if we pretend we’ve never talked about that parallel reality.
From: Rhys Baker
To: Ginger Davies
Subject: U okay?
Did you die of a heart attack, Ginger Snap?
From: Ginger Davies
To: Rhys Baker