Textual Encounters: 2 (11 page)

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3:33pm:

I’d be lying if I said your explanation of Rachel and Christine didn’t make me feel super special.

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Jake

3:34pm:

It should.
Because you ARE special to me. No, you are precious to me. Essential. That’s the whole point.

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3:34pm:

Jake, I don’t deserve you. You’re patient.
Way more patient than you should be.

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Jake

3:35pm:

I just want you to love me. And I’ll do anything to facilitate that. Patience is easy. I’ve got lots of it if it means you’ll love me someday.

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3:36pm:

Jake, you don’t want my love. I’m a young woman, stuck in med school for an eternity. You and I are at different stages in our lives. I couldn’t possibly give you the things you want.

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Jake

3:36pm:

You
already give me everything I want. And more. And once you love me the way I know you can, it will all be absolutely perfect.

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3:38pm:

Here’s a question.

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Jake

3:39pm:

Ask anything.

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3:39pm:

Do you want kids?

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Jake

3:40pm:

Someday. I’m not in a rush.

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3:41pm:

What if I don’t want any
at all, like ever? Or what if I want them yesterday?

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Jake

3:42pm:

YOU are the worth the compromise, either way. You’re worth any compromise.

3:47pm:

Are you ok?
Still there?

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3:48pm:

Jake, you are too kind to me. I’m not special enough for your love.

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Jake

3:50pm:

LOL, sure you are. So, are you going to come to Cape Cod with me this weekend or what? We can talk about what makes you so special during the long car ride up.

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3:51pm:

Let me make some changes to my schedule. I’ll let you know later tonight.

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Jake

3:52pm:

Am I seeing you tonight?

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3:53pm:

LOL, not a chance.
I need to get my shit together. Clear my head of all things Jake.

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Jake

3:54pm:

Bad idea, Katie. I’m not a doctor or anything, but you need me in you. In your head that is. That’s my professional advice.

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3:55pm:

Actually, I’m ALMOST a doctor and I can tell you that you’re in my head
way too much. Like a headache. I need to get rid of you, at least temporarily so I can get on with my day and life.

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Jake

3:56pm:

I didn’t know you fantasized about me so much.

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3:57pm:

LOL. Not fantasizing. Just thinking.

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Jake

3:58pm:

Anything erotic?

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4:01pm:

No, not generally. Not anything I’d admit to you.

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Jake

4:01pm:

Then what kind of thoughts are troubling you?

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4:02pm:

They’re the kinds of thoughts where I try to figure out how I fit in
to your life and how you fit into mine. Those are the most troubling of all. Because I can’t see the solution.

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Jake

4:05pm:

Don’t let them trouble you. And don’t think too hard about these things. We will work. I’ll make sure of it.

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4:08pm:

And if Christine shows up again?
Looking to get you back? Then what?

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Jake

4:08pm:

I told you, Christine is the past. She could never just “show up” and get me back. You should know that by now, Katie.

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4:09pm:

OK, I need to go. We’ll chat later.

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Jake

4:09pm:

Promise?

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4:09pm:

Jake, you’re killing me here. Your words… I can FEEL them.

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Jake

4:10pm:

Then you know each one was written from my heart.

4:15pm:

Still there?

4:16pm:

OK, don’t forget to chat again later tonight.

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12:48am:

Jake. You awake?

12:55am:

OK, that’s probably a good thing. When you wake up, I want you to take two things away from this long-winded text message. The
first is that I’m working an 18-hour rotation just so I can spend the weekend with you. The only downside is that I can’t leave with you until around noon on Saturday.

12:58am:

The second thing is whatever it is you think you’re doing to me… i
t’s working. You’ve gotten to me, Jake. You’re in my head. You’re in every breath I take. I just can’t stop thinking about you. It’s driving me crazy.

1:07am:

I’ve got to get to work. But know this: you’ll be with me
for the next eighteen hours. You’re in every waking moment of my day and I’m afraid you’ve infiltrated my dreams too. See you Saturday at noon. It will be a fantastic weekend.

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Jake

1:32am:

Katie, are you there?

1:34am:

I’m sorry I missed you. I loved your message, though. My heart’s beating so hard right now, I don’t know if I should be
calling 911. Old guys like me can’t take too much abuse when it comes to our hearts. But you’re a doctor (or almost), so you know this already. And come to think of it, if I call 911, maybe I’ll get to see you this morning. Hmm… something to think about.

1:38am:

Enjoy your shift and thank you for accommodating me. I think it will be a great time, too. Did I tell you? We will have to share a bed.

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3:48am:

Just checking in on a break and noticed your last comment about sharing a bed. Don’t know how I feel about that…

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Jake

4:16am:

Then I’ll take the floor. As long as you don’t mind if I poke my head over the edge of the bed and just watch you sleep. That’s all I need… to be close enough to watch you sleep.

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4:32am:

Creepy.

4:33am:

But somehow adorable. I’ll tolerate that.

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Jake

4:37am:

Yesterday you said that you can feel my words… don’t you want to feel more than just my words?

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4:38am:

Your response doesn’t surprise me.

4:39am:

If this is going to be a problem, I can stay home and catch up on the sleep I’m sacrificing… for you.

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Jake

4:40am:

No, you’re coming with me. I’ll take the floor. I love the floor, didn’t I tell you that already?

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4:40am:

I figured that! See you tomorrow!

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Jake

4:41am:

Enjoy your rotation. And check in on
jAppe. I’ll write more. Because I love you.

4:44am:

It’s okay that you don’t tell me that you love me too, btw. It’s not killing my ego or anything.

4:48am:

That’s what I thought.

2:33pm:

This has been the longest day of my life.
Twenty-two more hours before I get to see you. OMG that’s a long time…

2:34pm:

OK, so here’s a quick run down of who will be there and why you’ll care.

2:35pm:

Ben. You met him at the last party. Nice enough guy, but as you know he’s a terrible drunk. He’ll be there with his wife this time, the one I told you about, who will probably sit out on the deck reading a book and drinking Lemonade all weekend. She doesn’t drink because Ben drinks enough for both of them, and then some. Ben still won’t remember your name. Just so you know.

2:37pm:

Mitchell. He’s the
one who owns the cottage. A lot of people find him obnoxious, but it’s only because he’s richer than everyone else there combined. His wife is his second, so she’s a lot younger. Like my age younger, but still, it’s obvious and you need to pretend she’s smart. It’s not easy sometimes.

2:39pm:

Michelle used to work with Christine. Mitchell scooped her from one of the banks, so chances are good that if you see me with Michelle, she might bring up Christine. She knew we
were seeing each other, but that’s about it. Her husband is hilarious, he’s a property developer or something. I’ll make sure he doesn’t flirt too much with you. Because I don’t trust him.

2:40pm:

Phil and his wife Janice both work with me. Phil
was at the last work party, but I don’t think you met him. He’s an analyst in Oil and Gas and his wife is the admin for Mitch. Great people and they’re tight with Mitch and some of the other senior players, so it’s important you’re nice to them and laugh at their jokes, even if they’re not funny.

2:42pm:

OK, that’s it
. Very exclusive group. Wow, it’s not even 3pm yet. Have I told you that I miss you today?

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3:47pm:

I’m wiped. I’ve got eight more hours of this
shit. Ugh.

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Jake

3:49pm:

Maybe it will be easier if I pick you up after work and you can sleep here?

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3:53pm:

Nice try.

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Jake

3:55pm:

Can’t blame me for trying, can you?