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The phone rang.

I automatically checked the caller ID before I picked it up. HIM. It was him? He was calling? OhmyGod. WHAT? My ex-boyfriend was calling.

It rang again.

I froze. Him? Him calling? How could that be? I had forbidden him to call. No contact. That’s what I’d said. He had followed my request for three weeks. Why was he calling now?

It rang again.

I stared at the phone, willing it to tell me his reason for calling so I didn’t have to answer. He had decided weeks ago that he was unclear about his devotion, which allowed me to take a stand against being connected to a man who was wishy-washy about love. Why hadn’t I noticed his lack of feelings? Had I been sleeping?

It rang again.

Why was he calling? Why was he going against my wishes? Was something wrong? I wasn’t ready to pick it up. I needed time to think. Was he going to say he missed me, or did he realize he had left his denim shirt at my place?

The ringing stopped as abruptly as it started. Oh yeah, right, my voice mail picks up after the fourth ring. I waited to see if he was going to leave a message. Surely he would, right? That way I would know why he was calling without having to talk to him. One minute. One minute thirty seconds. Two minutes. Nope. Nope. Nope. Yup. The red light blinked, indicating he cared enough to leave a message.

My heart skipped a beat as I dialed the code to hear his voice.

“Hello Mrs. W. Just calling because I heard you haven’t cancelled your trip to Mexico for Christmas and thought we might still be sitting next to each other on the plane and thought I should call and open the lines of communication since we might both be leaving the country at the same time. Please call me when you get this message.”

So. He’s going after all. Darn it. The travel agent thought he would cancel, so I was thinking about charging the vacation on my credit cards. But. He was going. He was going.

Maybe we could divide Puerta Vallerta. I could take the beaches and he could have the rest? No. Maybe I could have the whole city?

I did the only logical thing a woman in my situation could possible do at seven o’clock at night. I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed so I could fall asleep for the night. A brilliant plan, too. Sleep. Ignore his request. Let him think I’m out partying or with someone else. My deviant plan put a smile on my face as I fell into an easy sleep.

At eleven o’clock that night the phone rang. I answered it without checking the caller ID.

“Hello Mrs. W.”

I laughed. “OhmyGod. It’s you?”

He sighed. “OhmyGod. You’re laughing when you hear my voice?”

I laughed again as I rubbed sleep from my eyes. “It’s one of my weaknesses. If you wake me up, I can’t be mean. And I always tell the truth.”

He laughed. “What a relief.”

“I had a friend who used to call and ask me marriage advice during the day. I’d tell her to follow her heart. But. When she called me at one in the morning? Well. I insisted she leave him.”

He laughed. “Did she?”

“Yup.”

He softened his voice. “How are you.”

“Great.”

“Really?”

“Yup. Really great.”

He hesitated. “Oh. Good. Then. I guess, then that, you made the right decision in leaving.”

“Yup. I sure did.”

“Good. That’s good.” I could hear him breathing. “Well. How about Mexico?” he asked. “Tell me your plans.”

“There’s no way I can go.”

“You need the trip more than I do.” he insisted. “Why don’t you go, and I’ll stay out of your way.”

“No. Thanks. I can’t afford the hotel. I’m thinking of moving to a better part of Denver.”

He waited a moment. “I’ll pay for your hotel. I know how tough work has been for you. You really need a break.”

I sat up in bed. “You’d pay for my hotel? My own room?”

“Yes.” He laughed. “But. Of course if you were in Mexico I’d want to see you. Maybe dinner? Man. I’d love to see you in a bathing suit again…”

I laid back down. “No. Thanks. But that won’t work.”

“Ok.” He said, quickly.

“Cool-guy. I’m not trying to start the dance. I’m done. Totally done. I’m ready to move on.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I know I was in love with you, but I lost interest when you questioned your love. Man. I’ll never forget that. I’ve never had anyone say he stopped loving me all the way. I’ve lost interest.”

“I didn’t mean…”

“Stop. Now. I don’t want to go there. I’ve moved on.”

I could hear him breathing. “Have you started dating?”

“Yes and no.”

He took a deep breath. “You’ve been amazing. I want you to know that. And your clarity around this has made me look at my whole life.”

“Yeah? Great.” I said. “Um. I’m going to sleep now. Sorry. But. I have to work in the morning.”

“You’re not laughing anymore.” He said, slowly.

“Yeah? Well. I’m awake, now.”

Wanna try another column? How about #208 Brown Eyes Can See, which is about me not telling a date about my lack of visual memory, and him trying to guess what's up.

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