Winter Wayhaught

Chapter 8

Saturday arrived. The bookstore had been open for a few hours, Robin busy answering customer questions, Nicole at the cash register, a line of customers waiting to pay. She had not made any plans to see Waverly since their last date in her flat. They had exchanged texts. Silly messages sent back and forth. She wondered whether Waverly would be visiting the store. Final customer in the queue served, she pulled out her phone.

Nicole: Are you coming in today?

Waverly: Usual time I think

Nicole: C u lantern

Waverly: lantern?

Nicole: later...meant see you later...not lantern

Waverly: love you...& I meant that

Nicole stared at Waverly's last text. The L word. She had used the L word. Was that love as in love, Nicole wondered, or was that simply her way of communicating? The bigger question was, should she say it back? What if this was a casual 'love?' If she repeated it, might she look too keen? The stress of not knowing how to respond turning her neck pink.

Robin floated by. "Someone's stressed."

Nicole showed Robin her phone. "Ah, the L word. Say it back to her."

"I can't. What if she's saying it and then I say it and she's not really saying it? She's just saying it, without saying it."

"I have no idea what you're saying. Far too complicated for my brain to process. If you don't say it and she has you're going to come across as not caring."

"But, what if I come across as too caring?"

"What must it be like in your brain? Give me the phone."

"No. You'll put something rude."

"I'd never do that. Although."

"I'll do it. But, I've left a gap between saying it back. She'll think..."

"Please, please, please, for my sanity, say it."

Nicole: I live you too

"Fuck. How do I take autocorrect off this damn phone? It's driving me mad."

"Give it here."

Robin took the phone, managing to send one text before Nicole realised what he was doing.

"What did you say? No, tell me you didn't. I do, but she'll think I'm only after her for her body. Which I am not. Oh God. I'm in so much trouble."

Nicole: Robin sent that not me

Waverly: Guessed. Do you?

Nicole: Do you what?

Waverly: Without clothes on

Nicole: If I said yes would you hold it against me?

Waverly: YES

Nicole: I'm so sorry. Please forgive me/Robin

Waverly: I meant my body...!

Nicole: Right. Good. Perfect

Waverly: You OK?

Nicole: stopped thinking

Waverly: LOL

Nicole stared at her phone. Robin had suggested they sleep together without clothes on. Waverly had said yes. In the space of a few minutes, their blossoming relationship had gone from liking to putting love in a message, from being fully clothed, to the potential to not be fully clothed. Her mind was in meltdown. Too much to process.