2:20am:
I wonder if it was you all along. If six years ago, while I sat on that bed, it was more about a woman I hadn’t met yet, and didn’t even know existed. So your talk of a higher purpose and signs and whatever else, it really resonated me. Eerily.
2:24am:
It sounds crazy, I know that. And I’m not suggesting you and I are “soulmates” or anything like that, but I definitely need to meet you. I need to hold you, breathe all of you in, and taste you. Once that happens, I will know. Not whether I should have married my ex-fiancée, but whether or not there is such a thing as true love.
2:32am:
Crazy, huh?
2:35am:
Text me that I’m crazy, and I won’t bug you anymore. Good night.
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6:13am:
Oh my.
6:13am:
I don’t think you’re crazy.
6:14am:
We need to chat, Jake.
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6:16am:
Now you’re worrying me.
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6:17am:
I want to figure out a way for us to meet before my next business trip to NYC.
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6:18am:
Yes, sure, let’s chat.
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6:19am:
It will have to be later. I have to get ready for work.
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6:20am:
K.
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11:18am:
Jake, you free?
11:24am:
OK, let me know when you’re free.
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3:15pm:
Better than free.
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3:16pm:
What does that mean?
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3:17pm:
I’m in Toronto.
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3:18pm:
What!?!
--------------------------------------
3:18pm:
Surprise.
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3:19pm:
That’s wonderful. How did you arrange this?
--------------------------------------
3:21pm:
Called in sick and jumped on a plane. Booked a hotel for 2 nights... so, it’s either your place or mine this weekend.
3:31pm:
You still there?
--------------------------------------
3:35pm:
In a meeting.
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3:35pm:
OK. I’m settling in at the Royal York. Right next door to your office!
--------------------------------------
4:02pm:
Wow, this is really happening... I’m suddenly nervous.
--------------------------------------
4:03pm:
You? Nervous? That’s a lie if I’ve ever read one!
4:05pm:
Still there?
--------------------------------------
4:10pm:
I’ll let you know once I’m free. Gotta run.
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4:18pm:
Was this a mistake?
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4:21pm:
Are you crazy? Not at all.
4:22pm:
I’ll make sure to be out of here at 5. Will meet you in the lobby at 505.
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4:23pm:
Can’t wait.
4:24pm:
Let’s meet at the round staircase railing in the lobby. You’ll see it, just keep walking through the lobby.
--------------------------------------
4:25pm:
Yes, I know the staircase you’re referring to.
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4:26pm:
Good, see you in a bit.
--------------------------------------
4:26pm:
Looking forward to it.
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4:27pm:
Me too.
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5:02pm:
Just leaving now.
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5:02pm
OK.
--------------------------------------
Saturday January 19, 2013
--------------------------------------
2:00am:
Did you make it back to your apartment yet?
--------------------------------------
2:02am:
Actually, I’ve been staying at the new hotel for the past few nights. The apartment was above my pay grade, remember?
--------------------------------------
2:03am:
They didn’t waste time moving you. I thought it wasn’t supposed to happen until the end of the month.
2:04am:
I wish you had let me walk you home. Toronto might be safer than NYC, but I saw on the news that there was some serious murdering going on here last year.
--------------------------------------
2:05am:
Yikes. Maybe you should swing by tomorrow to pick me up. I’ll let you get shot.
--------------------------------------
2:06am:
If that is what it takes to get another kiss like the one you gave me tonight, then I’ll walk through Baghdad.
--------------------------------------
2:07am:
Don’t get shot.
2:08am:
You’re a decent kisser yourself, funny man. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been kissed like that.
--------------------------------------
2:09am:
I felt completely at ease, which is unlike me when it comes to those first kisses.
--------------------------------------
2:10am:
At ease? I felt something else, and it wasn’t ease ; ).
--------------------------------------
2:11am:
Oh, that. It was a pencil, I assure you.
--------------------------------------
2:12am:
I liked that pencil pressing up against my thigh. If I had known you had it, I would have drawn something nice for you while we waited for our appetizers.
--------------------------------------
2:13am:
Sorry. You, uh, aroused that reaction in me...
--------------------------------------
2:13am:
Aawww, ain’t that cute... Mr Funny Man is embarrassed.
--------------------------------------
2:14am:
Go ahead, rub it in.
2:14am:
Pun intended.
--------------------------------------
2:15am:
Maybe that’s something we can work on tomorrow when you swing by my hotel. See if our next kiss is as good as tonight’s.
--------------------------------------
2:16am:
In a private setting, I will make sure it’s not just me who gets a little turned on when we kiss.
--------------------------------------
2:17am:
Confession: I was more than a little turned on tonight too. It’s just that I can hide it better than you can.
--------------------------------------
2:19am:
Confession: my hand on your inner thigh was more to see if you really WERE shaking than to see if you were still wearing those tights.
&
nbsp; --------------------------------------
2:19am:
Gosh, and here I thought you were going for something else!
--------------------------------------
2:20am:
That’s why you stopped me?! Don’t forget, I AM a gentleman.
--------------------------------------
2:21am:
Gentlemen don’t put their hands where you *tried* to put yours tonight, Jake.
--------------------------------------
2:21am:
So I’m a work in progress. I can admit it.
--------------------------------------
2:22am:
Then it’s a good thing I’m not looking for a gentleman.
--------------------------------------
2:23am:
Perfect, I’ll cancel my gentleman training.
2:23am:
You sure you don’t want me to swing by tonight?
--------------------------------------
2:24am:
Tempting, but I’m wiped. By the time you get here, I’m sure I’ll be asleep.
2:24am:
Plus, I promised myself to not get too carried away with you on the first night.
--------------------------------------
2:25am:
What about the second night?
--------------------------------------
2:25am:
Right now, I can’t remember what that standard was.
--------------------------------------
2:26am:
Let’s not try too hard to remember it, okay?
2:29am:
Still awake?
--------------------------------------
2:30am:
Yes. And my legs are still trembling.
--------------------------------------
2:31am:
I never knew my kiss would have such a lasting effect.
--------------------------------------
2:32am:
Sorry, that effect has worn off... now it’s the memory keeping me going.
2:33am:
I’m *so* happy you sent me that text in error...
--------------------------------------
2:34am:
Maybe it wasn’t an error. Just like you said.
--------------------------------------
2:35am:
And your showing up in Toronto today?
--------------------------------------
2:36am:
Combined with that kiss, it’s a sign that we are probably perfect for each other.
--------------------------------------
2:38am:
Jake?
--------------------------------------
2:39am:
Yes.
--------------------------------------
2:41am:
I need to sleep this off.
--------------------------------------
2:41am:
OK.
--------------------------------------
2:42am:
Come by tomorrow?
--------------------------------------
2:42am:
Of course.
2:43am:
Before or after your dinner?
--------------------------------------
2:44am:
After.
2:44am:
Good night.
--------------------------------------
2:45am:
How do I know where to go?
2:49am:
Still there?
2:51am:
I think what we’ve got going on here is unique, Christine.
2:51am:
Unheard of.
2:55am:
Sleep well.
2:57am:
I’m going to see about finding a gym.
--------------------------------------
8:35am:
Did you find a gym?
--------------------------------------
8:36am:
I broke into the hotel gym. Worked out for a couple of hours in the dark.
--------------------------------------
8:36am:
Is that pencil still trying to poke through your pocket?
--------------------------------------
8:37am:
Haha.
8:37am:
How did you sleep?
--------------------------------------
8:38am:
Not well. You kept teasing me in my dreams.
--------------------------------------
8:38am:
In a good way?
--------------------------------------
8:39am:
In the best way possible.
8:40am:
Except I’m exhausted now. Don’t know how I’m supposed to make it through my dinner party tonight.
--------------------------------------
8:41am:
You better not cancel on me!
--------------------------------------
8:41am:
Oh, I didn’t mean it like that. 8:00pm won’t come fast enough.
--------------------------------------
8:42am:
At least YOU have something to do between now and then.
8:43am:
I’ll be Mr. Tourist. See what the CN Tower is all about, maybe see more of that Distillery District where we had dinner last night and made out like two high school kids.
--------------------------------------
8:44am:
If you ever meet my colleagues, you’ll quickly see that doing the tourist thing is far more exciting than sitting at dinner and listening to their bullshit talk.
--------------------------------------
8:45am:
That DOES sound a little boring.
--------------------------------------
8:45am:
On the positive side, that kind of meeting will set the standard rather low for you.
--------------------------------------
8:46am:
Perfect. I’ll bring my B-game.
--------------------------------------
8:46am:
Oh, really? If I’m not engaged, you’ll be going home early.
--------------------------------------
8:47am:
Trust me, you can’t handle my A-game.
--------------------------------------
8:47am:
Try me.
--------------------------------------
8:47am:
We’ll see.
--------------------------------------
8:48am:
Gotta run. Phone’s ringing.
--------------------------------------
8:48am:
OK.
--------------------------------------
10:47am:
Jake, you around?
--------------------------------------
10:50am:
Just walking, checking out the architecture. Where R U?
--------------------------------------
10:51am:
At the Royal York. Thought I would surprise you.
--------------------------------------
10:51am:
OK, don’t go anywhere. OMW.
--------------------------------------
10:52am:
What is omw?
--------------------------------------
10:52am:
On My Way.
11:07am:
Where are you?
--------------------------------------
11:07am:
By the restaurant, sitting in a chair.
Textual Encounters (The Christine + Jake Affair) Page 5