by H P Steven
Checking my phone and remembered I hadn’t text back Kalliope.
Wow, hi Kalliope that sounds really great. I’m just at a friend’s place, but 7pm at the coffee place sounds good. Look forward to seeing you later.
“I’m sorry Lacy what were you saying?” I asked.
“Ha. Bro its rude to ask someone a question then just look at your phone.” Paul laughed.
“Yeah a text I had to reply to earlier that I had forgotten about,” I replied.
Just then my pants vibrated. I pulled my phone out to see another text from Kalliope
Hi Phil, oh cool, really looking forward to seeing you, too. I’m still out with my friend as well, Kalliope
“Yeah my bad, I’m a terrible person for not listening to either of you and checking my phone,” I mocked jumping off the chair. I sat on the floor, to play with Iva. “Hey, what’s that?” I asked Iva. I wrapped my thumb up in my hand and told her I’ve got her nose. “Kids find me funny,” I informed everyone.
She giggled but this time I stop her from falling. Pretending to fall as well.
“Oh man, I’ll stay for a couple more then, do you want to go halves in a taxi Paul?” I asked.
“Yeah sounds good man, I’ll get you another one, Lacy, Greg, keen for another?” Paul asked coming back into the lounge and handing me a beer.
“Cheers bro.”
“Are you sure you don’t want fruit juice in your sippy cup?” I smiled.
“No, she should be fine Phil,” Linda replied.
“We’ll give her something to eat and a bath and get her ready for bed in a bit,” Linda added.
“So what are you up to tonight Paul?” Lacy asked.
“Just a quiet one, then catching up with some mates possibly at the local. But hoping to catch up with the missus at some point. If your still around tomorrow, head our way for breakfast?” Paul suggested.
“Yeah sounds like a plan. Phil, keen to catch up in the morning with Paul and I for breakfast?” Lacy asked.
“Um, I’m not really sure, probably not,” I replied.
“Hey man do you want to get going?” Paul asked.
“Um, yeah if you’re ready. Give the taxi guys a call. they might take a while so time for one more,” I turned to Iva. “Hey Iva time for one more then I’ll see you again next weekend. For a big third birthday party, yeah. Awesome Lunch Linda and Greg, mean. Thanks for being free for a catch up,” I declared.
“Yeah no worries Phil, you need to come over more,” Linda replied.
“Too easy bro, you’re always welcome.” Greg shook my hand and gave me a friendly slap on the shoulder.
“Yeah bro, nice one. Awesome to meet you Lacy, and I’ll see you next weekend for sure also.”
“Yeah same here, I’ll see you next weekend,” Lacy replied.
“Oh man I’m old.”
As I tried to stand up. Picking up Iva and gave her a hug. This time no snot on the cheek. Just a funny, smiling little girl. Laughing in my arms, so I handed her to Linda.
“See ya Linda,” I laughed her, and give her a kiss on the cheek
“See you bro,” I said.
“Again nice to meet you Lacy.” She leaned in so I give her a peek on the cheek, “Catch you next weekend.” With that there was a toot of the horn of the taxi.
“That sounds like our getaway car,” I said to Paul.
“Yeah man lets hit it, I’ll call you guys later. See you tomorrow Lacy and family. See you all again soon, might pop over for dinner during the week,” Paul said.
With that we were both out of there.
8
Where Heaven and Earth Meet
“Ha. Get in bro, we’re making a run for it,” I laughed. “Gidday. Putney Main Street thanks,” I said to the driver.
“So what you up to man?” Paul asked.
“Heading home for a bit then heading down to meet Kalliope’s bro.”
“She seen you in the daylight yet?” Paul laughed.
“Hey bro, might be a while till I introduce her to you though bro. You might scare her off,” I remarked. “How’s your missus anyway?”
“Yeah good, think she wants to move in aye?” Paul declared.
“Ha good luck bro. She knows how messy you are?” I asked.
“She’ll find out soon enough I reckon. One of the flatties is moving out so I might ask her to take their old room and see how it works from there,” Paul commented.
“Fair enough, I give it a week,” I laughed.
We pulled into the Main Street in Putney. It seemed like a really quick trip.
“Ah just up there by All Bar One please mate. Awesome, there you go mate, thanks a lot,” I said, paying the cabby.
“Hey man thought we were going halves,” Paul petitioned.
“Nah all good bro, get me a beer next time and we will call it even, take it easy bro. Good luck with the missus, I’ll see you later or next weekend.”
“Sounds good man, good luck tonight,” Paul replied, as I turned away to walk up the hill home.
Getting back home, I opened the front door. Luckily a neighbour saw me at the gate and let me in. I should have written down the code or put it in my phone I thought to myself.
“Hey Hannah, you home?” I yelled out.
“Yeah in the lounge with Devin,” Hannah replied.
As I entered I saw them both relaxing on the couch.
“Oh cool, hey man how’s it going?”
“Yeah good bro, just finished work and popped over to chill for a bit,” Devin replied.
“Hey Hannah, we got anything to drink?”
“Yeah Devin put some beers in the fridge,” Hannah replied.
“Help yourself man,” Devin added.
“Ah cool, you two want one?” I asked.
“Yeah sounds good,” they both replied.
Moving into the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing three corona’s. Man, I’m looking forward to this beer with these two. Walking back into the lounge I placed two on the coffee table and popped open mine before sitting down in a chair. Devin and Hannah both reach for their beers at the same time both laughing hysterically as they sit back on the couch together.
“So what time you catching up with Kalliope?” Hannah asked. Devin, spat out a bit of beer.
“Bro, hope your gonna clean that,” I laughed.
“What, you’re catching up with the Greek chick tonight?” Devin asked.
“Yeah, just popping down for a bottle of wine and a get to know each other,” I replied.
Adding finger quotes Devin said. “Oh, get to know each other.”
“Yip, in fact I’m gonna finish this beer and have a quick shower. Don’t want to give the wrong idea by smelling like a baby,” I joked. “That reminds me, you guys are invited next weekend if your free.”
“Probably not aye bro,” Devin replied. “Might be up in York till Thursday next weekend. Depending on Hannah’s work load,” Devin added.
“Oh is that next weekend,” Hannah remarked.
“I’ll have a look this week but should be okay with the work load. That came up fast. I thought that was a few months off yet, wow,” Hannah remarked.
“All right you two I need a shower. Hey if you get a pizza save me a couple slices,” I joked and with that I put the empty beer can in the sink. As I walked into my room and across to my desk my pants started vibrating. I didn’t bother checking who it was. I just got my stuff and headed off to the bathroom for a shower. Didn’t take me too long to get sorted.
Heading back to my room, I checked my phone. It was from Anna.
Hi, Phil sorry I missed your call I’ll try to be free tomorrow if that works. Anna
I must have pocket dialled I thought to myself. Anyway, I headed back to the lounge, smiling still wondering why she always ended hert texts with her name. Surely she knew I would have seen it was from her number.
“Hey you two, I’ll see you later or tomorrow,” I said.
“Yeah bro,” Devin said.
“See you in five minutes’ loser. I hope you’ve got rubbers,” Hannah joked.
We all started laughing at Hannah’s terrible comment.
“I’d like to erase this conversation,” I snapped, at the them both, still laughing after Hannah’s comment.
“Have a good night!” Hannah yelled. As I walked to the door.
“See you two,” I yelled back before leaving.
Heading down the hill I text Anna back.
Hi Anna
Tomorrow would be great. I look forward to it, I’ll text before calling so you’ll hopefully be free. Phil
This isn’t going to end well for me.
Just before I walked over to the coffee place. I popped into the railway for a quick pint. I’ve got a bit of time, but thought better of it and made it a lemonade instead. Okay having five minutes to go before catching up with Kalliope. I finished the pint and walked down to the coffee place.
Just as I got there, Kalliope’s not there yet. So I popped into the shop and order a small flat white. After getting it. I stood outside on the main road looking up the hill thinking I’ve been stood up when someone taps me on the right. So I naively turned to the right and no one’s there, it’s not till I turn back. That Kalliope puts her lips on mine.
As we part she whispered, “I’ve been wanting to do that all day.”
“Well that wasn’t my best work,” I whispered
As she looked at me and I pulled her closer to me from her hips and lay my lips on hers again, but this time. I part our lips and push my tongue firmly against hers.
As we parted again, she looked at me and sighed, “Wow.”
I smiled back and she asked me, “What kind of wine do you like?”
I shrugged. “I’m pretty easy when it comes to either. Let’s go get a bottle and head back to your place,” I suggested.
“Sounds like a plan,” she replied.
“So how were your friends today?” Kalliope asked.
“Good and yours?” I replied.
“My friend was really good as well, I told her about you,” Kalliope announced.
“Oh cool, hopefully terrible things,” I laughed.
“Well, I tried to. But it was a bit hard as I don’t know you,” Kalliope added.
“Well, we’re here now to get a bottle of wine. Head back to yours and you can ask me anything you want,” I replied. I walked in and get a bottle of red from the Hunter Valley and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand
“Alright, we’re all set,” I said, kissing Kalliope again.
“Cool, I’m just around the corner,” Kalliope whispered.
We got back to her place and I finally knew what the smell was. Its pigeon poop. It goes away once we go through and close the front door.
“That’s a really random smell,” I commented.
“Yeah well, you get used to it,” Kalliope shrugged.
As we got up to the open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen.
Waggling a bottle of wine at her. “Where she keeps the wine glasses?”
“Just in the cupboard to the left of the sink,” Kalliope replied.
“All right cool.”
Grabbing a couple of glasses and opening the NZ Sauvignon Blanc first. I hand a glass to Kalliope. “So what do you want to know?” I asked Kalliope.
Smiling at me, she asked me something I wasn’t expecting.
“I know this might sound weird but do you have a five-year plan?”
I wasn’t expecting that.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not looking for fun,” Kalliope replied.
As I took a big sip of wine. “Okay, I’ve never thought about a five-year plan, my life’s pretty random. But I’ve grown to be respectful. Which I think in cases all aspects of being in a short or long term relationship. I’m looking to get to know someone, I think could be amazing. Someone I wake up to every morning and see the most beautiful thing someone who’s with you can see,” I smiled back amazed at myself for coming up with anything.
Kalliope added. “I’d like to be with someone who has goals.”
Oh, I’ve got goals for tonight.
“Someone who’s driven, and would be interested in possibly living in Brisbane with a house and possibly a kid.”
I smiled at her, and thought. Wow, I’ve known you for sixteen hours maybe, that’s a huge call to come up with on a second date.
“The wines amazing from New Zealand,” I mentioned making a detour to try and change the conversation.
“The Hunter Valley might be better,” Kalliope joked taking another quick sip of wine, not as big as the last one.
“How was the gym this morning?” I asked.
“Oh really good, my trainers awesome. We use to hang out quite a bit back in Brisbane and we’ve been to a few dance parties over here,” Kalliope replied.
“Oh cool,” I added
“What kind of music are you into?”
“Well, my musical tastes were forever sorted when my cousin first played me a Beastie Boys tape,” Kalliope answered.
“Ha nice tape,” I teased.
“What about you, what kind of music are you into?” Kalliope asked.
“Well, I’m eclectic,”
“I like all kinds of music. I also dabble a bit playing the drums,” I responded.
“So you’re a drumming writer?” Kalliope asked.
“Yeah pretty much, but I also cook. You’ll have to let me cook for you sometime,” I insisted.
“Oh I’ll definitely let you cook for me,” Kalliope replied.
“I don’t know many Greek dishes but we could always cook together for fun. Though I’ll cook the first few,” I said as Kalliope smiled at me.
“Do you want a refill?” I asked getting up, Kalliope passed me her glass and I finished off the Sauvignon Blanc by pouring it into both our glasses. I took them back to her and asked. “So how long have you thinking about your five-year plan for?”
“For a while I guess,” Kalliope replied. “Never thought I’d bring it up tonight though. I guess you do what Hannah told me you do,” Kalliope added.
“Oh no, what’s she said now?”
“You make people feel safe,” Kalliope whispered.
“Oh wow.”
“And how do you feel about me?” I added.
She got up and came over to sit closer. She looked into my eyes deeply.
“You make me feel funny, in a good way,” Kalliope smiled.
“Oh good,” I replied. The moment kind of lost on me.
“I don’t usually tell my friends about some random guy I spent the night with,” Kalliope added. Taking another sip of wine then turning back to me. “I can’t read you,” Kalliope added.
I added, “You don’t have to read me, just ask me anything. I’ll always answer you truthfully, that’s what respectful means.”
“Ok,” Kalliope responded “Did I scare you with the five-year plan?” Kalliope asked.
“You didn’t scare me but you did surprise me.” Kalliope looked away, “I don’t live for the moments; I live to make memories I tried to explain to her. I had a great time, and I enjoyed the way we met. I love the random. Being that I’m open to the possibility of meeting someone who surprises me. Someone who is independently tough enough to be alone. Yet happiest being with that one thing that makes them happy. Especially when they are trying to make memories, that one thing is you.” Kalliope turned back to me smiling “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m enjoying this memory.” I smiled back. Thinking that was pretty cheesy to myself. But I’ll go with it.
Leaning in, she reciprocates, and we end up making out till a cough surprises us both.
“Um, hello,” It’s Kalliope’s flatmates.
Brett and Ann-Marie the French girl and the Aussie guy.
“Oh hey, how’s it going?” I asked.
“Good, who are you?” Brett asked.
“Sorry guys this is Phil,” Kalliope said introducing me.
“I thought you were back tomorrow.”
Kalliope leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Let’s go to my room.”
“Okay,” I whispered back taking her glass and mine. Putting some wine in them, then followed her to her room. “Nice to meet you both,” I insisted.
“So I guess you’ll be here next weekend?” Brett asked, as Ann-Marie looked on.
“Um, I’m not sure. I’ve got something on,” I told them.
“Anyway nice to meet you both,” I remarked again, before heading to Kalliope’s room. Offering her glass to her, she accepted it gladly, looking back at her housemates shrugging. We entered her room.
“So what’s happening next weekend?” I asked.
“Um, it’s my birthday,” she replied. “But I know you’ve got your friends kids birthday party so I wasn’t going to say anything. you don’t need to come,” She added.
“Oh wow. Well, it is short notice,” I laughed.
“But if I can I’ll definitely try and make an appearance. But if your free this week, at least let me take you out for a drink or dinner after work,” I insisted.
“That’ll be great,” Kalliope agreed.
“Okay let’s pencil in Wednesday night,” I added. “So what else do you want to know about me?” I asked.
“I’m not too sure, what do you want to know about me?” Kalliope asked.
“Nothing right now,” I replied. “I want to stretch out this whole thing and be surprised. I’m sure there are things that you say and do that’ll surprise me. And things I say and do that might surprise you.” I smiled. We both finished our glasses of wine and Kalliope kissed me again.
Parting she whispers “I’m really tired, but I want you to stay. Can you spend the night?”
I’m pretty sure in my mind I was thinking about staying and my pants were already off. So, I responded in a relaxed tone, “Sure.”
Kalliope got up and grabbed some clothes and headed to the bathroom.
I slipped under the covers and took off my pants, folded them up and placed them on the floor at the end of the bed. I’ve got to admit I was pretty tired myself. Possibly after I had been drinking all day. I was a little bit worn out.