As I drove back home from visiting my cousin, I couldn’t help but think about the last few days. I recently found out that my chronically single cousin and best friend had a boyfriend and was living with him. AND she kept it a secret from me. Although I wanted to be mad at her, seeing how the two of them interacted, I couldn’t help but be happy for them. They seemed to be perfect for each other and they looked good together. The holiday seasons and spending time around the happy couple only reinforced my desire to find someone new to date. 

I have never enjoyed being alone and did everything in my power to avoid it, especially this close to the holidays. I had been with my last boyfriend for 2 years before he decided to cheat on me, so I quickly dumped him and have spent the last 4 weeks getting my life together and moving on. With only 4 days until Christmas, I had been getting nervous that I would be spending the holidays alone. Fortunately for me, my cousin’s boyfriend has a cute brother who I am planning to see tomorrow. 

Stopping to get gas, I check my phone and find a few texts from him. Although we had only started talking this morning, we clicked immediately and after he responded to the message and picture I sent, we video chatted for about an hour. Since then, we texted back and forth for a few hours before I left my cousin’s house this afternoon. Only about 30 minutes from home, I decided to call him and keep my phone on speakerphone so I could chat with him as I finished up my drive. 

“Hey, Cade!” I exclaim as I hear the sound when he answers my call.

“Lila, are you home already?” he asks as a worried tone fills his voice. “I thought you’d have at least 30 minutes left of your trip.”

“I do,” I responded. “I had to get some gas so I decided to put you on speakerphone as I continued to make my way home. I just wanted to hear your voice.” I say adding a flirty tone to my voice. I could already picture the blush on his face at my words, and regretted not sitting at the gas station and video calling him so I could see it again. 

“I… like to hear your voice too.” he says after a slight pause. Although he has a timid and sweet nature about him most of the time, I had the idea that once he gets comfortable, he will be a bit more blunt in the way that he speaks. 

“I’m glad.” I responded before saying, “I was able to book a flight to come see you before I left my cousin’s house. Since it is a pretty early flight, I should be landing around lunchtime. Do you want to meet up at the airport or at a restaurant nearby?”

“I want to pick you up at the airport.” he blurts out quickly before saying, “If you’re okay with that, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Imagining the flustered look on his face, I giggle before responding, “I would love that, then you can take me out for lunch and we can get to know each other a bit better. I have a ton of things I want to get to know about you.”

“What do you want to know?,” he asked me as I could hear him typing through the phone speaker. 

I knew that he was a computer genius and had been using his skills to keep his family from trying to use their power and influence to manipulate his brother, Chris. Even still, I was curious about everything else so I figured I’d take advantage of this opportunity. “What do you do for work?”

“I work in IT for my brother’s business and have a small business of my own where I focus on graphic design, I make websites and things like that.” he responded as he continued to type. 

“What are you working on right now?” I ask curiosity filling my voice.

“Just some basic stuff for my brother’s website. My parents had it blocked for the last week or so, so I had to re-do everything. I released it this morning, but it still needs a bit of maintenance and some polishing still. It’s nothing too serious and doesn’t take too much concentration at this point. Don’t worry, I’m still paying attention to you.” I could hear the smile in his voice as he finished his conversation. 

Despite only talking to each other for a few hours, I had always been a believer in true love. After seeing his picture and hearing his voice, I knew that I wanted him to be the one for me. Seeing how well he already knows me makes me like him even more. I couldn’t wait to see him. Despite my growing feelings, I remain casual as I respond, “Good, now next question. What is your favorite color, food, and animal?”

“That‘s three questions,” he reminds me before continuing, “The color of your eyes, steak and owls.”

I could hear the honesty in his voice, and couldn’t help but be flattered that he likes the color of my eyes so much. “Thank you for the compliment, but why owls?”

“They can fly, see in the dark and look like they have a lot of wisdom. Plus, some of them even look pretty menacing. Have you ever seen one in person?” he asked as I could hear the excitement fill his voice as he answered my question. Realizing I accidentally found something he seemed to be very passionate about, I decided to continue the question and listened as he began to tell me about different types of owls, the things that differentiate them and the different trips that he has taken to see them. 

Promising to look at his collection and see some owls with him when I visit, I spend the rest of my drive home learning about owls. Hearing the passion in his voice for them, I found myself interested in learning more about them as well. Not wanting to interrupt him, I didn’t even say anything as I arrived home, I simply opened the door and closed it on my way out of the driver's seat. As I stretched, I could hear him stop talking before asking, “What happened? Are you home already? Oh, you probably are, I didn’t even realize I talked for that long. I probably made you bored, didn’t I?” he began to ramble as he continued talking. 

“I wasn’t bored at all. I just got home and didn’t want to interrupt your sentence. To be honest, I never knew how interesting owls could be and I don’t mind having you teach me more about them.” I answer as I go around to the back to grab my suitcase. 

“I’ll take your word for it,” the teasing tone of his voice could be heard as he continued typing in the background. 

Grabbing my suitcase from the back of my car, I quickly head inside and drop down on the sofa in the living room. Sighing I lay back and stretch, feeling grateful to be home again, if only for a little while. 

“Are you okay?” he says. “I heard you sigh.”

“I’m fine, I’m just glad to be home even for a little bit.” I respond as I reach for my favorite throw pillow. 

“You don’t have to come visit me, you know.” he says, pausing before continuing tentatively. “Although, I would love to meet you in person as soon as possible.”

“I’m still coming to see you, I want to see you more than I want to spend time here alone.”

“I look forward to seeing you-”

 I hear him respond before I hear a voice in the background and his typing stops abruptly. I wait a few minutes for him to continue his sentence, before asking, “Are you still there?”

“Yes, I’m sorry. That was my roommate asking me where something was in the kitchen.”

“I didn’t know you had a roommate?” I said with curiosity in my tone. Twisting my fingers, I began to feel nervous. He said that he was single, but I was sure that the voice I heard belonged to a woman. Realizing that it was too early to feel jealous, especially when we were only flirting with each other, I decided to trust that he had been telling me the truth. Besides, I would be flying out to see him tomorrow, so I should be able to see things for myself then. 

His typing pauses as he answers, “Oh yeah, I have two roommates actually. I thought I mentioned them already, but I look forward to introducing you to them. They are really cool and I think that you would get along with them well.”

“Well, I’ll look forward to it then.” Looking at the time on my phone screen, I can tell that it is getting late. Knowing that I need to be packed and ready to leave early in the morning tomorrow, I say, “I should probably get going on getting everything ready so that I can catch my flight tomorrow morning.”

Expecting at least a little hesitation, I was shocked as he simply replied, “Okay, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Bye.” I say as I end the call. Was I the only one that was interested in a relationship? I thought we had been flirting, but maybe I was just reading into things. I have always been the type to fall in love quickly, but I hoped that he would be the one I stay with forever. Deciding to avoid my emotions, I busy myself packing for my next trip and cleaning out my suitcase from the last one.