Wrong Number

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My life consists of going to work and coming home. Occasionally spending time with my best friend Kara. Sitting at home, watching a movie, my phone rings. I don't recognize the number but answer anyway. "Hello?" I asked. "Hey. What are you doing?" the voice on the other end asked. "Not much. Who's this?" I asked, not recognizing the voice. "It's me, Juice. We met last night." he says. "Sorry dude, I think you got duped." I say. "This isn't Katie?" he asked. "Nope. Sorry." I say. "Who's this?" he asked. "Rita." I say. "Well, Rita, nice to meet you...sort of." he says laughing and it causes me to start laughing. "Same to you. So, what did you do to make this Katie chick give you a fake number?" I asked. "Wasn't fake. It was yours." he says and I can hear the smile in his voice. "Okay. So what did you do to make her give you my number?" I asked again. "Guess fate didn't want me talking to her." he says and I just shake my head. "Well, couldn't be your charm that scared her off." I say laughing. "Surly not." he says and we both laugh harder. "You got spunk." he says. "You don't know the half of it." I say. "Well, on that note. Have a good night. Sorry it was a wrong number." he says. "Yeah. You too. Sorry you got duped." I say. We end the call and I look at my phone for a minute thinking "That was odd." before heading to bed.

Waking up the next morning, I see a text from the number that called the night before.

J: Good morning wrong number. Hope you have a spunky day.

R: Morning Oh Duped One, hope you have a good day too.

I look at my phone and find myself smiling. I get up and get ready for work and make my way to my desk. A few hours later, I see my phone light up with a text. Smiling, I shake my head and open the text.

J: You know, I was just thinking. Wrong numbers aren't really a bad thing. I think that Katie chick did me a favor.

R: Why do you say that?

J: I had more fun talking to you last night than I did the night before talking to her. She was a little blonde...lol

R: Lol. Yeah, I'm brunette. That's why. I'm smarter.

J: Shit. I hope so. Lol.

R: That bad huh?

J: Let's just say, me trying to call her, was a last call kinda thing.

R: Awe, had to settle for your right hand huh?

J: Yeah, but at least I had something good to think about.

R: TMI...lmao

J: Just being honest.

R: That's a good thing I guess.

J: I gotta get back to work. Can I call you tonight?

R: Sure. No harm in that.

J: Good. Have a good rest of the day Rita. Talk to you tonight.

R: Talk to you tonight Juice.

I look up to see my best friend Kara looking at me. "What's with the goofy grin?" she asked. "Nothing." I say. "Bull shit." she says. She grabs my phone and asked "Who's 'The Duped One'?" she asked. "No one." I say. "It's someone if you have them under something other than a name. I guess I could press call." she says. I grab my phone quickly and say "Shit. Fine. Last night I got a call and it was a wrong number. Apparently some chick gave him a fake number and it ended up being mine." I say. "Okay?" she said confused. "We ended up talking for a little while and he was funny and it was comfortable. He texted me this morning to tell me good morning and was texting me while he was on break." I tell her. "This is a good thing. So, are you gonna talk to him about meeting?" she asked. I looked at her sternly and say "You know not all guys think the way you ex did?" she asked. "I know but I don't even know if we will keep talking. We'll see." I tell her and she drops it, seeing me looking back at my computer. "Okay. Just, let yourself have some fun." she tells me and I nod. Some of my insecurities coming back.

Later that evening, I am sitting on the patio, drinking a glass of wine when my phone rings. I smile, seeing who it is and answer. "Hey, it's the duped one." I say. "Hey wrong number. How was your day?" he asked. "It was okay. Busy. How was yours?" I asked. "About the same." he says. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Sitting on my patio, with the fire pit burning, drinking a much needed glass of wine. What about you?" I asked. "Just sitting here drinking a beer. Why is it much needed?" he asked, almost sounding concerned. "Just a long day. Nothing I can't handle." I tell him. "You sure?" he asked. "Yeah Juice. I'm good. But this wine is going down really smooth so I let me apologize now for the blunt comments that I can't promise won't come out of my mouth." I tell him laughing and he starts to laugh too. "I like blunt girls. Means they are honest." he says. "Oh I can be honest." I say laughing. "You know when you texted me today, my best friend say the look on my face and asked me who I was texting." I tell him. "What did you say." he asked. "I told her about you calling me last night and the text this morning because she said if I didn't give her details she'd call you and ask herself." I tell him. He laughs. "Now, why would she do that?" he asked playfully. "Because she wants me to put myself out there again. My ex kind of did a number on me and I have only left the house to go to work since we broke up." I tell him. "Oh. I'm sorry. How long has it been?" he asked softly. "Nearly a year." I tell him. "Wow. You really should get back out there." he tells me. "I kinda like my little paradise by myself." I tell him laughing. "Well, maybe one day, you'll let me join you." he says. "Maybe. You can be my cabana boy. Little speedo and all." I say and cover my mouth when I realize what came out. "I am so sorry." I say and he is full out laughing. "It's okay. I can be your cabana boy but not with a speedo. Need something bigger to hold what I have." he says and I start laughing. "Really now? Are we talking, vienna or foot long?" I asked boldly. "Guess you'll have to wait and see, huh?" he says and I find myself choking on my wine. "You okay there Princess?" he asked. Catching my breath from coughing I say "Yeah. Just, uh, yeah." I say. He gets quiet. "Seriously though, you seem pretty cool. We should think about meeting up one day." he says. "We'll see." I say. "Well, sweetheart, I better let you go. Gotta get up early in the morning." he says. "Yeah, uh, me too." I say. "Goodnight." he says. "Night Juice." I say before ending the call.

I sit there for a few, thinking. He wants to meet. I can't do that. I can't let myself go there. Finally getting up and heading to bed, I fall asleep thinking that maybe talking to him isn't such a good thing after all.