Page 360 of Valentino

He better call me or I’m going to go insane, either that or drive Allegra completely mad. I text her for the hundredth time today.

He didn’t call yet.

She text back,

Will you fucking chill.

He will.

I flop back onto the couch with a dejected sigh. I’m suddenly remembering why I hate dating, they either call too much or they don’t call at all, it’s exhausting.

I go through my game plan for if he does call. Act casual, ask to meet him there, and if we do end up going out do not under any circumstance sleep with him on the first date.

I actually like this guy and I don’t want him to think I’m easy… even though it would be totally easy for him to get me into my bed. I’m pretending that it wouldn’t be. I’m faking it till I make it….. or something like that.

My problem is I’m a feast or famine kind of girl, I either haven’t gone on a date for twelve months and am completely sworn off men, or I go on a bender and wake up beside the devil.

Bad boys are my kink, a self-inflicted torture that I cannot resist.

But that was the old me…

This time I’m doing it different, I’m older now and I need to get my shit together and use my brain for once. I’m going to make sure we have meaningful conversations, have fun, I’m going to get to know him and not be a dumb deer in the horny headlights kind of girl.

My phone rings and I glance at the screen,

Unknown number.

Eeep….

“Hello.” I answer.

“Hello Halle.” The deep voice replies.

I scrunch my face up in excitement and jump off the couch, I begin to pace as I listen.

Act cool.

“Who’s this?” I ask. Ha-ha… I’m totally nailing this being cool thing.

“You know who it is.” He replies.

Oh, he’s onto me, maybe not so much then.

“Ummm, let me guess.” I play along.

“It’s Bruno.” He snaps impatiently.

“I knew that.” I smile, “Just acting cool.”

Oh hell, I screw up my face and slap myself in the forehead, why did I say that?

“I don’t like cool.” He says but I can tell that he’s smiling.

“Yeah well,” I smile too, “Are you going to ask me out or ….?”

“It sounds like you’re asking me out now?”

“Maybe I am.”