Escape | ✓

12

I was convinced that giving Eli my number was a big mistake. The one condition I had was that he didn't blow up my phone with meaningless messages, but as it turned out, Eli rambled just as badly over text as he did in person.

My eyes scanned over the multiple min-paragraphs he'd sent me. I tried to locate the important parts, but it was difficult to do so when he changed topics every other sentence. I suppose it was my fault for expecting anything less given who I was talking to. Eli was the embodiment of a ball of energy, it only made sense that his texts would reflect that as well.

I read through the texts a few more times before I finally grasped that he was asking me to go out and eat with him. Almost habitually, I started to deny his request, but as if he was expecting it, another message came through.

Eli: Come on, you can't say no. You agreed to let me take you out sometimes and we haven't met up since the library. It'll be fun!

I highly doubted that. I sighed and tried to remember why I agreed to outings in the first place. It wasn't as if I was the social kind by any means, but then again, I suppose it was better than revealing to him that we lived in the same apartment building. If I did that then I'd never get rid of him. He'd be like another Arlo: constantly entering my house at random periods of the day. I shivered at the thought.

Eli: Reuben, you know I can see that you've read this right?

Eli: If you really don't want to go then I won't make you, but I thought getting food together could be a fun thing.

Eli: Not to mention, I'm not exactly the world's best chef and there's only so many microwaveable meals that a guy can survive off of. I was hoping that you knew some good restaurants around the area.

Eli: Specifically, somewhere that served a good burger?

What did I get myself into? The three dots at the bottom of the screen reappeared and I couldn't help but shake my head.

Reuben: Meet me at Tony's in an hour.

Truthfully, I had no plans of leaving the comfort of my apartment today. I had a date scheduled with nothing but the living room couch and TV remote, but I also knew that if I turned Eli down today then I'd have to see that kicked-puppy expression the next time I saw him and then I wouldn't be able to get out of the next outing he planned. At least this way I was getting food out of it and since Arlo was spending the day with Callie, I didn't have to worry about his nosiness.

Eli: Okay, I can do that!

Even through text he always seemed so excited. I stood up and stretched before I moved toward the closet, grabbed clothes, and headed to the bathroom. I set the clothes down on the counter with my phone and started to undress so that I could get in the shower. However, before I could do so, my phone buzzed again and I sighed before glancing down at it.