“Okay. That’s enough. Don’t you have something better to do?”
“Nope. How does it feel to know that you almost couldn’t pick up a girl and she didn’t even know that you’re sort of famous. In Portland, anyway.” She almost couldn’t talk because of her laughter.
“That was my favorite thing about her! She doesn’t know what I do, Whitney. Do you know what that means? There aren’t any crazy expectations, no ‘You will never believe who I’m dating’ stories, nothing but normalcy because she doesn’t have a clue. This could be a good thing, if she ever texts me that is.”
Whit is quiet for a second. “Does this mean you aren’t going to tell her?”
“Not right away. Maybe. I don’t have to, right?”
“Up to you, Hudson. She’s going to know eventually and lying to her from the start about something as basic as your job won’t go over well.”
She does have a point. I don’t know if it’s better than the alternative, though. Either way, it’s not something I need to tell her right now. “I’ll think about it, but for now, I’m sticking to that plan. I’m plain old Hudson to her and I don’t want to change that.”
“Okay. Go be a regular guy then. When in doubt about whatever you decide to do, ask yourself if you would want a guy to do the same thing to me.”
Oh, no. She always tells me that, but it always works too. “I will. Gotta go, though. I’ll call you later. Love ya.”
“Love ya too, Hudson.”
I toss my phone on the couch and go into the kitchen to fix something to drink. A vibration sounds loudly on the leather. When I sit down and pick it up, my lips lift in a smile at the text.
Ellie: Hey, it’s Ellie…from the bar? Just texting so you’ll have my number.
I send back a message, saying thanks and that I was worried I might have scared her off.
Ellie: A little, but I’m safe with text messaging
Part of me wants to say something mildly dirty, but she admitted that she easily blushes and I rather save that for when I can see her blush. So instead, I joke that no pepper spray is needed. Not that she would ever need it with me.
Ellie: You never know these days, lots of crazies in the Big City
Ha. She doesn’t have to tell me that.
Me: True.
Ellie: Are you from Portland?
Me: Nope. I’m Canadian. Nice, eh?
Ellie: Nice. Thought you had an accent
Me: Where are you from?
Ellie: Small town in Idaho
Me: Traveled from there all the way here?
She doesn’t text as quickly as before. After five minutes pass, I wonder if that wasn’t a good question and if I have finally scared her off.
Ellie: I live in a small town in Washington now
Me: & do you like it there?
Ellie: Yes, I do. It’s quiet and no one ever bothers you
That sounds nice, the complete opposite of how it can be here sometimes. A glance at the clock tells me I should probably get to bed.
Me: Long day tomorrow. Text later? :)