How the Light Gets In (Cracks Duet #2)(24)
Monday 11:20 [email protected] to [email protected]
I question Johnny’s knowledge of Leonardo da Vinci . . .
Monday 11:24 [email protected] to dylanod@dylanscents
He watched a documentary once. But anyway, before Da Vinci come the hijinks. They wind up fighting a duel with a medieval knight to defend the honour of a fair maiden. They also attend an audience with the king, and convince him to charge his people less tax. They even set Shanessa up with a guy they meet who, get this, looks exactly like Eddy.
Monday 11:27 [email protected] to [email protected]
Okay, now I’m dubious.
Monday 11:32 [email protected] to dylanod@dylanscents
No really. It’s perfectly logical. So, after all these good deeds, they finally go on their journey to find old Leo. Cue the fun montage. He turns out to be a kindly old gent who’s more than happy to invent their time machine. When they get home, Eddy has a newfound confidence that has Vanessa eyeing him lustily. She drops her boyfriend and they ride off into the sunset.
Monday 11:36 [email protected] to [email protected]
What about Johnny?
Monday 11:41 [email protected] to dylanod@dylanscents
Johnny’s still dumb as rocks, but he’s a real popular guy, so life is good. The movie ends with him trying to peek down some girl’s blouse and she slaps him across the face. Everybody’s like typical Johnny and they get a real good chuckle out of it. Roll end credits.
Monday 10:56 [email protected] to [email protected]
Man, if this was 1989, that script would’ve sold like hotcakes.
Monday 11:10 [email protected] to dylanod@dylanscents
I know, right?
*
That was just one of many conversations I’d had with Dylan over the last two weeks. It was so weird to be able to message him whenever I felt like it and we could shoot the shit. Talk about any random crap that came into our heads. It was nice to be silly sometimes, and it was really helping me focus on the positive. Life didn’t always have to be so serious and dark. It could be ridiculous and funny and generally pleasant.
After the meal we shared in his office, I hadn’t seen Dylan in person. He was always so busy, but tonight we were finally going out. He, Yvonne, Conor, and I. Since we’d only been communicating electronically, I was both nervous and excited to see him in person.
“Do you know where they’re taking us?” Yvonne asked as I sat by her dresser putting make-up on. My room, which was more of a glorified storage closet, didn’t have space for such luxuries.
“I’m not sure.”
“Do you think I should wear my red dress?”
“Yeah, go for it.”
“It’s not too risqué?”
“No, you look gorgeous in it,” I said, attempting to reassure her. Yvonne was always indecisive when it came to clothes. She didn’t like to look like she was on display, which I completely understood, but still. At thirty-nine, she was even more attractive than she’d been in her twenties. I guess being a non-smoker and a very light drinker all your life paid off.
“Okay, I’m going to wear it,” she decided, steeling herself.
I smiled at her through the mirror, happy with my make-up, then got up to put on my own outfit. I wore my best pair of jeans with a loose, flowy cream blouse and some heels. I thought it was smart enough to work for a range of possibilities.
I’d just finished pinning my hair up when the buzzer went. Yvonne hurried over to answer it. “Hello.”
“Yvonne, it’s Dylan. Can we come up?”
“Sure, I’ll buzz you in now,” she replied and my stomach tightened. I was excited like a giddy teen.
The front door opened and in walked Dylan and Conor. They were both going casual in jeans and shirts, which put me at ease somewhat. My attention rested on Dylan the longest. What he said about me growing into my face suddenly made sense, because he’d grown into his, too. He looked comfortable in his own skin now. He’d achieved everything he’d set out to, and there was contentment where once there’d been restlessness and dissatisfaction.
“Hi,” I said, going to give Conor a quick hug and then Dylan. He held me tight for a beat longer than normal, murmuring in my ear, “You look amazing.”
“Thanks,” I replied and stood back as Yvonne came out of her room, bag in hand.
“Hi everyone,” she said, all smiles. When she saw Conor she stopped short, blinked several times then cleared her throat. Quickly, she gathered herself and stepped forward. “Dylan, it’s good to see you again. And C-Conor, it’s been a long time.” She cast me a quick glance as if to say, holy shite, he grew up, didn’t he?
“Too long,” he agreed. “Hello, Yvonne.” He smiled, eyes wandering over her appreciatively. And there it was. Holy crap. It was hard to believe that even after all these years, he still had a thing for her. I guess we always held a candle for our first crush, which was probably why Dylan had such a potent effect on me.
A moment passed between us, like nobody knew what to say.
“Well, let’s get going, shall we?” I ventured and Dylan nodded.
“We have a taxi waiting outside.”
“Oh great,” Yvonne said. “I always have such trouble flagging them down. It’s like I’m invisible.”