"Hello?" Pt. 2

July 11th 2016

"Are you in a better mood today?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Really."

"C'mon, Soph. It was just a football game."

"Except that it wasn't! It was the Euro final, Daniel, and we lost!"

"And in four years, the French can try again."

"That's not the point!"

"Sophie, calm-"

"Do not tell me to calm down. That's only making things worse!"

"Is there anything I can say to make things better?"

"Not particularly."

"I'm still going to try, though. I phoned a few architects today and one seems rather excited to join the project."

"Are we seriously going to just let someone loose on our house and let them come up with ideas, because I'm not liking this plan."

"That's because you're a control freak."

"I'm not a control freak. I just know how I like things."

"You're a control freak. Deal with it."

"Fine, call me that if you want, but at least I won't be complaining once things are done to my exact specifications."

"Babe, you'll find something to complain about whether it's to your specifications or not."

"I am offended by that comment. Anyway, can we hang fire on the architect and the planning until I'm in London?"

"What, in October?"

"In August."

"You're here in August?"

"I told you this yesterday, Daniel."

"When?"

"When you were nattering on and on and on about that bloody garden."

"It's an amazing garden."

"Forget about the fucking garden!"

"Calm-"

"Don't even!"

"Ok, ok. I won't."

"Good."

"So, you're back in August. What's the occasion again?"

"Lucas' birthday."

"Ah, right! I remember you mentioning that."

"You only remember me mentioning that because I told you that there'd be an open bar."

"No, I remember because right after you told me about his birthday, you said that it would be the first one he's ever celebrated as a non-virgin."

"Haha! Yeah, there's that too."

"I find it strange that you're amused by your brother's sex life."

"It's only amusing for now because it's still so new. He's never had a sex life before."

"Are Charlotte and Emma also finding this all funny?"

"Kinda, yeah."

"You're horrible sisters."

"Ah, but he loves us, nonetheless."

"He loves you, yes. But he doesn't like you very much."

"Yes, he does."

"According to the conversation Lucas and I had last night, he really doesn't like you all."

"Liar. Luc loves me!"

"Does he?"

"Why are you being mean?!"

"I'm kidding."

"But you have to admit, he's walking around like a cock in a hen's  house."

"Haha! What?"

"Cock of the walk."

"Why are you repeating the word, 'cock'?"

"Why not?"

"Because that's weird."

"Only to you."

"How did we get to talking about male appendages?"

"We didn't. I was talking about cockerels. Your dirty mind took you to penises."

"It get's worse."

"Would you like to quit while you're ahead?"

"I would, very much."

"Thought so."

"Back to the house."

"What about it?"

"We're not making any decisions until August?"

"Not for the plans of the place. Everything else can go ahead. I'll transfer my share of the cash into that account we set up and then PG can get the ball rolling with regards to the purchase of the house. The rest we can discuss another time once the sale goes through."

"Well, you heard the estate agent yesterday. The current owner wants a quick, no nonsense sale. It'll be done and dusted by the end of the week, especially if we pay in cash."

"So, we should talk about the interior design, too. Our tastes are so different."

"They're not that different."

"They are. You like ultra modern, I like cosy."

"I don't like ultra modern."

"You do. There's hardly anything in your place."

"Not because I like that style. My house is minimalistic because I've never really been bothered to decorate ti before. Never needed to make my house a home before, but with you, that's what I want. I want a home, Soph. I want cosy."

"Damn it, man! Why is it that you always know the right thing to say?"

"Oh, I know the answer to this! It's because I'm a sappy prick."

"Couldn't have said ti better myself."

"That's because you're the one who said it to me yesterday."

"That's because you were crying over Andy Murray winning Wimbledon!"

"It was an emotional moment!"

"No, emotional was having to watch Portugal get that goal in extra time!"

"Never a truer word spoken. I didn't think it was possible for Camille Clément to cry, but alas, I was wrong."

"Shut up."

"Noted. But really... you mother can cry?!"

"Daniel?"

"Yes?"

"That's your future mother-in-law you're smack talking."

"Ah... right."

"And on that reflective note, I'm hanging up. We're landing in five minutes."

"I hate that you're back in New York already."

"Me too, babe."

"Are we skyping this week?"

"Most definitely."

"Excellent."

"Got to go, hon."

"Ok. I love you, Sophie."

"I love you, too, Daniel."

"Bye."