Small World

Seven.

I woke up extremely early the next morning to pack for IMATS. Some people pack for a three day trip weeks prior but not me. I prefer to pack as last minute as I can. It helps me make a very efficient checklist. I could hear rustling in the kitchen. I stopped the gentle piano playlist from Pandora on my phone and grabbed my now empty coffee cup. Deeohgee followed behind me.

"Good morning sunshine." I turned the little corner into the kitchen to see Mykie already sipping on coffee and scowling at me. I ignored her evil eyes. I poured a little coffee creamer into my cup then held it up to Mykie since she was blocking the coffee pot. She filled my cup still glaring her eyes. I walked out of the kitchen to sit on one of the barstools in front of the kitchen's counter. I avoided her eyes while acting completely normal; setting my phone down sluggishly, blowing on the hot coffee then taking an obnoxiously loud sip.

"Just tell me already, asshole!" Her explosive voice thick with the Philly accent made me jump in my seat.
"Okay, okay. Relax, psycho." I set the coffee mug onto the counter. I unlocked my phone to bring up the picture of me and Chris on Small World. "Don't freak out." I warned her. She came closer to the counter.
"Oh, no! Another Toupee Trump?" She pouted.
"Not quite." I held up the phone to her. She squinted her eyes to the phone.
"He looks handsom—holy shit! That's Captain America!!" My body jumping again from her violent outburst. "You went on a blind date with Captain America!" Her voice becoming higher and squeaky at every word. I nodded my head, bringing my phone back to the counter. "Details!!" I laughed at her excitement. I told her every tiny detail. Being forced to talk to each other at first with immense awkwardness eventually turning into a make out session on Small World. When I boasted about the forehead kisses, she chimed in. "Awww, that's your favorite thing ever!"

"Right!" I giggled and took a sip of my coffee.
"That is so cute! Are you going to see him again?"
"Yeah. He wants to take me on a date after he picks me up from the airport on Sunday."
"He offered to pick you up from LAX?!" She dropped her mouth in shock. "You got yourself a keeper, my dude." I laughed and shook my head.
"I don't know.. it's.. well, maybe just be available on Sunday. Just in case he doesn't show—"
"No, don't start that bullshit." She interrupted. "He obviously likes you or he wouldn't have offered to conquer LAX for you. That can't be easy for him with the paparazzi." She made a very good point so I nodded my head to agree. Just when I checked my phone for the time, a text notification popped up from Chris. I froze and smiled at Mykie. "Read it, read it!" She begged. I remembered to breathe as I unlocked the phone to read the text out loud.

"Good morning, beautiful. What time is your flight?" Mykie and I pouted our lip at same time, causing us to laugh at each other. I started to type my reply, reading it in my head numerous times before sending:

Good morning, handsome! My flight takes off at 11am.

I sent the text. I quickly received a smiling emoji from Chris, followed by a reply that I read out loud to Mykie.
"I can't wait to see you on Sunday." I replied to him with just the word 'ditto' to which he responded with another smiling emoji and 'lol'. My expression abruptly changed to my thinking face.
"Uh, oh. What?"
"No, nothing. I just can't believe he's single." I gasped. "Maybe he snores!" Mykie laughed, throwing up her hands in defeat.
"That's why they invented earplugs, bitch!" We laughed together. She leaned onto the counter, pointing her finger to me. "Don't question it. Don't fight it. Don't doubt it. Just be you."
"Thank you, Mykie."
"You got it. Go finish packing. Don't forget to pack a cute outfit for Sunday. We leave in an hour!" I hopped off the barstool, grabbed my coffee and shimmied my way to my room.

I hugged Mykie before sticking my head into the car to give Deeohgee a million more kisses. He licked my nose to give me a kiss. I waved to Mykie, now back behind the wheel. I gave Deeoh another kiss on the head.
"Be a good boy for Auntie Mykie!" I stepped back onto the curb.
"Buy me a lot of shit!" Mykie yelled out the window as she disappeared into traffic. I grabbed my suitcase, carryon and purse so I could make my way through the very long security processes.

I took a picture of my feet for Twitter. My all black converse next to my carryon with the caption:

'Headed to IMATS NY! Can't wait to meet my subbies!'

A few likes and comments appeared within a few seconds of posting it. I scrolled thru the names to stumble upon one very familiar with a blue check mark next to it. I clicked on Chris' Twitter to see that he follows me already. A text notification from Chris appeared at the top of my phone. I opened the text to see what it says, reading it in my head:

Is it weird that I'm following you on Twitter already? 😅

I smiled uncontrollably. I typed my reply:

Not at all. How else am I supposed to hold you accountable for my ride home?

I watched the small 'delivered' turn to 'read' with the timestamp. It's pretty cute when a guy has the read receipts on. I figured I could do the same for him. He had already replied by the time I returned to the conversation:

I believe you were the one that called me persistent?

I giggled softly. An announcement over the loudspeaker informed everyone of the boarding process has begun for my flight. I typed the response while walking to the gate:

You are. I guess I'm more excited about kissing you than I thought 😉
I'm boarding the plane now so I'll text you when I land.

His reply appeared on my phone when I sat down in my seat:

You're not the only one.
Have a safe flight, beautiful.

I thanked him. I knew I couldn't be distracted while at IMATS. There was going to be so much to do and so much to see. I convinced myself to only text him when it was convenient for me. I hate when someone I'm dating smothers me so I'm not going to do that to someone else.
Besides, I'm too old for games.