22

22

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: Los Angeles

I’ve decided to stay a while longer in LA. They’ve said they’ll keep me on another two months, until December, and I’ve agreed. I don’t feel like going to San Fran. Probably having Logan here is part of it. I haven’t told you much about him, but I’ve known him since college, and that makes me feel at home. It’s hard to explain, because we barely have anything in common, but I guess sometimes that doesn’t matter.

What are your plans for the week? Lots of stuff to study?

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: RE: Los Angeles

Good, I like the idea of you staying in one place for a while. I don’t know how it doesn’t drive you crazy going back and forth all the time. How long ago was it we met? Eight months? And you’ve already lived in three cities. I couldn’t do it. I’d miss stuff. Like opening my drawer and seeing all my socks matched and folded together.

Yeah, I’ve got tons of work. I guess that’s how it is being a senior. I’m thinking about my final project, but I don’t really know…

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: For real?

That’s the best thing you can think of, Ginger, a well-organized sock drawer? You think I don’t have socks of my own? Maybe not thirty pairs like you, but I’ve got a week’s worth, and I know how to wash them.

I’m sure you’ll come up with something for your project.

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: RE: For real?

Okay, so the socks were a dumb example, but you get the idea. Routine. Stability. Thousands of things go into that. Traveling back and forth between cities makes it impossible to have any normal relationships.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: Wrong

I’ve got a sock drawer.

And I have a relationship with you.

Find another excuse.

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: Patience

You’re an idiot.

I was talking about romantic relationships.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: RE: Patience

Those types of relationships aren’t my thing, so maybe there’s something positive in my present situation. Otherwise I might run the risk of fucking things up with someone who matters to me.

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: Curiosity

Why aren’t they your “thing”?

So I was right from the beginning. You’re a one-night stand kind of guy. So predictable, Rhys. You’ve let me down.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: Expectations

What did you expect, Ginger?

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: RE: Expectations

Nothing and everything. I didn’t expect you to be one of those guys who’s allergic to commitment, who hides behind that to amuse himself with spending the night with girls. Not that there’s something wrong with that—don’t misunderstand me. I’m not looking for anything serious either, but that’s not a rule or a principle; it’s just what I’m into right now.

What I do know is, a true relationship requires effort and sacrifice. Whereas a random fuck means not thinking and just letting yourself go. And those two things aren’t compatible.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: …

Did you ever stop to think that something that requires “effort and sacrifice” is already a problem? I don’t understand why we should impose things on ourselves that don’t make us happy. Life would be way easier if we just felt and lived day to day without pressure, without having to follow the herd down this or that road.

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: RE: …

Are you calling me a sheep?

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: RE: RE: …

I’ve painted myself into a corner, right? Whatever I say, you’re going to get mad. So to hell with it, I’m risking it all. Maybe I am sometimes kind of a “snail,” but you’re a little bit of a “sheep” too.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: Confirmation

I guess it’s official: you’re pissed.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: Clarification

I didn’t mean that as an insult. I was just saying you tend to follow the script in life. And if that’s what you want to do, it’s fine. But maybe you could try to respect people who don’t too. So I’m not looking for the kind of relationship you described. Who knows though? Maybe when we’re forty and we’re still talking, you’ll find me living in a ranch in the Midwest with twenty kids and my second wife, and you’ll laugh when you think of this moment. But right now…at this very instant…I just can’t see it. It’s not a part of my plans.

Come on, Ginger. I miss you.

Help me start November on the right foot.

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: Note

I want to make one thing clear. First of all, you can’t have twenty kids when you’re forty. You’ve only got fourteen years left. That means it would be impossible.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: Smart cookie

I mentioned living with my second wife. Who’s to say I didn’t get my first wife, who used to be my lover, and my second wife pregnant at the same time? Do the math. Ten kids each for two women is totally doable.

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: I’m getting bored

You can’t see me, but I’m rolling my eyes. And eating a chocolate donut and writing with one hand and thinking that sometimes you piss me off so much, I wouldn’t even give you a bite if you were here. Hear me? Zilch. Not a nibble. Not even a lick.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: Mmmm

Jeez, Ginger, do you have some kind of sexual fetish with donuts? Relax, I think I’ll survive without running my tongue across your snack. Unless, of course, donut is a code word.

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: RE: Mmmm

Pig.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: RE: RE: Mmmm

You’re the little piglet, eating in bed with one hand at your laptop, probably licking your fingers while you write, Ginger Snap.

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: RE: RE: RE: Mmmm

SAUIHFSAF QWAUFHB QWJFBSC

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: Mmmm

Does that mean you’re pounding on the computer?

From: Ginger Davies

To: Rhys Baker

Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Mmmm

While I think of you, yes.

Good night, Rhys.

From: Rhys Baker

To: Ginger Davies

Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Mmmm

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Good night, Ginger Snap. Get some rest.

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