A Phone Call And A Fight
Dahlia
The storm brewing in my stomach doesn’t bode well for dinner tonight. The fact that Max was so positive Vex is going to hit Adonis doesn’t help. I need this to go well.
“Mindy,” I whisper when she hangs up.
“What’s up?” She takes her headset off and turns to me.
“Are you going to the club tonight?”
“Why? Wanna come?”
No! That’s the last thing in the world that I ever want to do. “I’m going to dinner with the crew.”
“Where are they going this week?”
“A steak house.”
Her nose wrinkles.
“Please come. Vex is—”
“VEX!” She gapes at me and then whispers, “You’re dating Vex.”
Dating feels like such a small word for what we’re doing. “Yes.”
“I’m so winning that bet and coming to dinner to see this.”
Why does it feel like I just made everything worse?
My phone rings, saving me from having to respond to Mindy, “You’ve reached 911. What is your emergency?”
“It’s good to hear your voice again, beautiful.”
The pit of my stomach falls out as a shiver runs down my spine. “You’ve reached 911. Please state your emergency.”
“Do you want to be my friend?”
No. Stay professional. Don’t let him know that he’s getting to you. These weirdos feed off of that. “Please state your emergency or I will disconnect this call.”
“You’re so sexy when you say—”
I hang up the phone and log out.
My hands start shaking.
“Prue, are you okay?” Mindy turns to me.
“He called again.” The weirdo called again.
“Go talk to Adonis.”
***
“We’re going to escalate this.” Adonis types on his computer. “Protocol doesn’t call for police intervention, because he didn’t make any threats. But if he calls again, I’m going to request they step in.”
Again?
He might call again?
“It’s unlikely, but we’ve had people call dozens of times before the police tracked them down. You don’t need to worry about him. The building is secure.”
Their security measures are comforting. And this guy has no idea who I am. I’m just a voice on the phone. “Okay. That’s good.”
“If you want, you can take the rest of the afternoon off. ”
Do I? It’s tempting to call Vex and just spend the rest of the evening in his arms.
But then I’d have to live in dread of yet another Friday. “Thanks, but no. I’ll just take a few minutes to decompress and head back in.”
“Whatever you need.”
What I need is for all the creepy men in the world to disappear. But I’ll settle with texting Vex for a while.
Not that I’m going to tell him about this little incident. He doesn’t seem like the type to handle what happened rationally.
Me: Hey!
Vex: Hey, Dahl!
Don’t ask him how his day is going.
Me: Looking forward to dinner tonight.
Vex: Where are we going?
Me: A steak house around the corner from my work.
Vex: Seems like it’s about time that you tell me where you work.
Why have I kept it a secret for so long? It’s not like I’m embarrassed by this job—the other one, I don’t want anyone to know about ever. Maybe because a crime lord and a 911 operator doesn’t sound like a good match.
Me: I work at a call center answering phone calls.
Vex: Why didn’t you tell me that sooner?
Just tell him already. Pull off the bandage.
Me: I answer 911 calls.
Vex: WHAT?
Me: I help people.
Vex: Dahl!
Me: It’s an important job, and I like doing it.
Vex: We’ll talk about it later.
Oh no, he didn’t.
Me: We aren’t talking about it.
Vex: Yes, we are .
Me: If my job is up for discussion, so is yours.
Vex: You aren’t keeping a job that isn’t safe.
Me: What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Vex: It’s not the same thing at all.
Me: How is it different exactly?
Vex: You’re mine.
Those two words make my heart flutter.
Even if they aren’t, I love you.
Me: You’re mine.
It’s only fair if he claims me that I claim him.
Vex: I can protect myself. This isn’t up for discussion.
That’s where he’s correct. It isn’t up for discussion. Vex doesn’t get to tell me where I work.
Me: Does that mean you aren’t coming to dinner tonight?
Vex: Of course I am.
That’s something at least.
Me: I’ll meet you at the restaurant.
Vex: I’ll pick you up at work and drive you to the restaurant.
Me: Everyone usually walks together to the restaurant.
Vex: Then I’ll walk with you guys to the restaurant.
Having my boyfriend and his eight dozen bodyguards walk me wouldn’t be in the least bit embarrassing.
Me: Um…
Vex: What’s wrong Dahl?
Me: I want everyone to meet you.
Vex: Isn’t that what we’re doing?
Me: You… just you.
Vex: Is this about your bodyguards?
Mine?!?
Me: I don’t have bodyguards. You do.
Vex: Your safety is first priority for me .
Me: It feels like we’re going round and round in circles.
Vex: What do you want?
Me: To walk to dinner like a normal person with my boyfriend and workmates.
Vex: Done.
Why does that feel like he answered way too fast?
Me: What’s the catch?
Vex: No catch.
I’m not buying that.
He has an ulterior motive.
Me: You aren’t going to be mean to my boss, are you?
Total silence.
Me: Are you?
Is he not answering on purpose or did something happen?
Me: Please.
Vex: Say the words again.
What words?
Oh….
Me: You know that’s not something a person says on demand.
Vex: Say the words again.
Why am I fighting a smile even when he’s driving me batty?
Me: Does this count as a fight?
Vex: Not if you say the words.
Me: We haven’t even kissed yet.
Vex: Are you ready for me to kiss you?
Am I?
Me: I should be.
I sleep in your arms every night.
Vex: Dahl, I would wait an eternity for you to be ready. A few weeks is barely a blip in the time we’ll have together.
Me: I love you.
Vex: Send me the address. I’ll play nice.
Everything is going to be just fine.