The cherry on top for my newfound self was a simple email, offering me an invitation to another casting for another campaign. In about a week, they wanted to see me, because they had enjoyed working with me the last time, and with my heart racing louder, I couldn’t believe it at all! 

Ridding myself of Vince, I thought, was the best thing I had ever done, as everything turned so much better right after.

My excitement got the best of me, and not knowing whether I could simply text him like this, I ended up doing so anyway. 

[16:12: Felix: I got invited for another casting!!]

Thomas didn’t answer right away, and I wondered whether it made me feel disappointed. In person, he clearly showed his interest, and maybe it was childish of me to expect the same through our text messages. Though he now had my number, too, he never contacted me of his own volition, and if I didn’t message him, there was dead silence between us. 

But maybe I was stupid for thinking that way. After all, Thomas was a busy, important man with lots and lots of work to do. He wasn’t just on the phone waiting for my messages. In the end, I realized, I’d long begun craving his attention, and my heart did beat so much louder when he did answer me. 

[23:20: Thomas: I’m glad to hear it.]

But his messages were the driest things I’d ever received! I sighed, pressed my phone into my face out of embarrassment, and was almost annoyed that I had waited so many hours, just to receive something like that. 

But then, as if he’d noticed me staring at our messages, or he simply shot his shot, he called me. 

With a thumping heart and a quivering, embarrassed voice, I accepted, and my little peep reached his ears. “H-Hello?”

“How was your day, darling?”

I pressed my hand onto my face to avoid my giddiness to come out, worried about a little giggle or a little squeak every time he called me darling. “I-It was okay … I had a few lectures, and that was it. And … you?” 

Naturally, I left some truths unmentioned. Vince, who’d been at my place only a few hours ago, and the things that could have conspired. It felt like I had done something forbidden behind his back ...

Of course, I realized how different our days were. Thomas’ little sigh, and the way he spoke of his day, he lived in a totally different world from mine. “Meetings, calls, signing off on projects and proposals. The usual for me, I must say.” 

“Is it boring?”

“It’s alright,” Thomas said. “If I was, I’m not bored anymore.” 

I blushed, because I knew what he meant to say, and my eyes clenched shut because it was too overwhelmingly sweet, the way he complimented me, the way he charmed me. 

And I realized how stupid I was — whether he texted me or not, his interest in me was genuine. He didn’t message me, because I was sure he never had his phone in hand. And maybe, just maybe, he thought it inappropriate to text me first. He had given me his number, and maybe he left it up to me whether we had contact or not. I was the younger one of us, after all, and it could come off as weird if he constantly messaged me. 

Given how thoughtful he was of my boundaries, I could see that being the case.

And honestly, that reality made me feel even more at ease when I talked to him over the phone. There was no pressure at all, and if we didn’t talk for weeks, it didn’t matter, and if I called him every day, he wouldn’t mind it, either — that was the impression I got. 

“This new casting … do you know what it’s about?”

Thomas’ buzz as he thought made me even more nervous, and I grinned from ear to ear, snuggling deeper into my pillow and blanket. “I can’t recall. I’m not always up-to-date on everything, I’ll admit. Technically, I have nothing to do with those companies. I only approve their budgets.” 

“Oh, I see. I’ll … try my best … at the casting,” I whispered. 

“I’m sure you will,” Thomas chuckled on the other end of the line. “It’s late, isn’t it? I’m sure you need to sleep, darling.” 

I rushed up into a seated position, sudden panic flooding and freezing me. “T-Tommy!” 

It slipped out of my lips, and I didn’t regret it, not necessarily, but I was totally ashamed when I heard his surprised little scoff, that chuckle as if he hadn’t expected it at all. And even his smile, I could hear through his deep voice. 

“Yes?” 

Again, I’ve gone crazy. 

“I want to know more,” I whispered into the phone, and at first, Tommy didn’t understand.

“More?”

“W-Whatever feels great … not just the little things.” I hid my face inside my pillow right after I’d spoken, and I knew exactly how it sounded, and I knew what I was asking for, and I could only hope Tommy understood without me having to spell it out for him. 

But all he did was laugh; in a surprised way, a gentle way. 

“Goodness,” was all he said.

Maybe, just maybe, Thomas was also a little embarrassed upon realizing my sudden initiative.