October 12th
7:30 AM
I rolled over and reached for my phone to shut off the alarm that blared in my ears.
Today was the day.
A day I had been anticipating months.
I looked at my notifications and saw a text from Awsten from a few hours ago.
Awsten:
Good luck today!
I love you so much
You've got this and I'm so proud of you
I bit down on my down on my lip and snuggled deeper into my covers.
Tatum:
Thank you :) I love you too
You around to talk or you in VIP already?
I pushed myself out of bed, taking my phone with me to make some coffee in my kitchen.
Then Awsten was calling me and I propped up my phone in the kitchen on a jar of sugar.
"Hi baby." He grinned where he sat on the bench in the bus. "You just wake up?"
"Does it look like it?" I asked as I tucked hair behind my ear and reached for a mug. "I did though."
"I mean kinda but still beautiful. It was the fact that you were in your bralette that gave it away."
"Oh," I put my mug down on my Nespresso machine and picked out a decaf pod, looking down at the black bralette I did infact have on. "It was warm here yesterday and I just feel like it's too late in the year to put my AC on."
"Baby, are you serious?" He chuckled a little. "This is LA."
"Yeah, but tomorrow it could get down to like 55 degrees and then I'd be cold."
"Welp, I wish I was there right now." He sighed. "I miss falling asleep with you and waking up with you. I actually just miss sleeping."
"What about some melatonin or something?"
"It takes too long to kick in. I'd have to take it like in the middle of our set. I'm just trying to meditate a bit before I talk to you to calm me down." He rubbed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair.
He did look tired. More so than usual.
"Why don't you just sleep in longer during the day?" I asked him.
"I have been." He shrugged, adjusting his AirPods in his ears. "I've been waking up at like 12 or so. I just hate that. It drives me nuts."
"It's better for you to sleep in and be well rested, and I'm still expecting that when I'm there."
"Oh absolutely not." He shook his head will biting down on his lip. "When you're here I will be spending every waking moment I can with you possible."
"I'm going to be very out of wack my first day with you anyway. I would be surprised if I wake up late."
"We'll be cuddling in a bunk."
"Bub, we will not both fit in a bunk together." I went into my fridge and pulled out my creamer and a couple of eggs.
"You've been calling me that a lot lately." Awsten said softly and leaned more into the camera. "I like it."
"Bub?" I stretched out, laughing after as he watched me. "I think it's cute."
"It is cute." He propped his elbow up on the table and rested his chin in his palm. "You feeling nervous?"
"Yeah, actually." I nodded, fixing my coffee and then leaned back on my counter. "Very nervous. I need to cook a good breakfast and really stretch. I woke up early to give myself enough time."
"You're gonna be great." He hummed. "You're having coffee and you're nervous? Won't that be bad for your anxiety?"
"It's decaf." I shot him a cheeky smile. "I need the taste of coffee at minimum in the morning."
"Fair. What are you gonna make for breakfast?"
"A lot of eggs." I told him and opened the fridge. "I think I'll sprinkle just a bit of cheese on them and then I'll make a piece of toast so I get some carbs in."
"What time is it at again? Your audition?"
"10." I sighed and took my first sip of coffee. "And of course it's downtown. I need to leave here like...around nine."
"What time is it now?"
"A little after 7:30."
"Early morning."
"Aren't they always?" I leaned back on my counter. "I miss you."
"I miss you too, Tater Tot...just a few more days." Both of his hands held up his head now - they were both ringless.
"I'm so excited to see you - and my first Waterparks show. I might lick your face one night."
"You're joking me." He nodded his head a little with his eyebrow raised.
"I'm not." I bit down on my lip and shook my head.
"Babe, that's so gross."
"You'll love it." I giggled, turning back to my cabinets and pulled a bowl down to whisk my eggs. "We've done worse."
"Tatum..."
"It's true!" He was blushing and adjusted his airpods as I cracked an egg into the bowl. "I really can't wait to see you."
"Me neither." He sighed, adjusting his sweatshirt so his hood was up. "I'm starting to annoy everyone here. I miss my girl."
"They have girlfriends too!"
"I guess they just don't love them like I love you."
"Smooth."
"Speaking of which, you have flowers coming today. I think though they're supposed to get there when your audition starts, so that's my bad."
"You're so cute." I paused what I was doing to lean back into the camera. "Thank you, that's very sweet."
"You're welcome." He shot me a cheeky grin.
"I think I'm going to go to the store after this audition. You want me to bring any snacks with me over there for you?"
"Oh my god, do I?!" He sat back. "Hmmm, I want some goldfish, and can you bring me some of those twizzlers?"
"Sure." I went back to cracking eggs.
"You know what else you should do?"
"What?"
"Bring that perfume with you for my sweatshirt?"
"Yeah? You liked that?"
"Mhm." He nodded. "I keep that sweatshirt on the bus. I can't imagine if fans were like hugging me and smelling you. That's mine."
"I need a refresh too."
"Baby you can literally use my cologne in my apartment."
"Yeah but like...that's only part of you."
"Bring it with you and I'll wear it while you're here."
"Okay." I smiled at him.
We talked for a few more minutes while I cooked my breakfast, but he had to go to get inside the venue, so we hung up and I stuffed my face, then dashed to my room to get dressed.
I had no idea what to wear. Literally none.
And this was a huge audition. I should've picked this out last night.
I grabbed a trusty pair of black leggings, then a black sports bralette, and an oversized white shirt that I had cut the collar off of so it would hang off of my shoulders.
I curled my hair, did my makeup, then headed out the door with my dance back promptly at nine a.m.
My stomach was in knots while I drove. It would take me around 30 minutes to get there. I'd have time to find parking and stretch.
When I got there there were already at least 20 dancers. Everyone was filing in like me.
I dropped my bag, doing my best not to look around the room, but there was a high pitched voice that sounded too familiar and caused me to look up.
Kate. Fucking Kate.
I had no idea she was auditioning for this.
As much as I hated Kate, I couldn't ignore that she was a great dancer - and she was stunning. A tall skinny blonde with the bluest eyes.
She was just a bitch.
I looked away quickly, sitting down and reached out for my foot to stretch my legs and let out a deep breath.
I'd been working up to this for months. I wanted this so badly.
"Oh my god," Kate was in front of me. "You really showed up to this?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked while looking up to her.
"Just like...with the mess from your old production company and how messy that is, you really think they're going to want you?"
"Why are you always so concerned with what I'm doing?" I snapped, watching her face flush.
"Why can't you just put in the work and audition for shit like the rest of us instead of sucking dick?" She said lowly so only I could here.
"What are you talking about? I'm literally here auditioning."
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes and walked away, her annoying ponytail swaying with every step.
I adjusted my mom's ring on my finger - the only piece of jewelry I was wearing today and went back to stretching.
What in the hell was she talking about?
Wait. It had to be what happened with The Weeknd, right?
The only people that knew I didn't audition were Erik, Jaida, and Frank...
Kate was obsessed with Erik.
Jaida and I weren't super close but she'd had my back since I joined the dance company, and I doubt she would have said anything to Kate - neither of us liked Kate.
So that would mean Erik...
Then there was the whole sucking dick thing...
She probably thought I was...or he had said...
Jesus Christ.
AND I'd recently found out it wasn't 5 spots for female dancers - it was three.
Two male.
Three female.
And now Kate was here too.
My chances were even slimmer.
I had no idea how long I would even be here today. It would probably last a few hours...
A few hours potentially in the room with her.
And the crazy thing is I'd never done anything to her. She's never liked me.
I never asked her why because I didn't really care - plus I knew.
She was jealous of Erik giving me attention and I didn't care about him either. It wasn't a me problem.
Is that what had happened though? That night Erik has talked about...did I give him a blowjob? Did something really happen between him and I...and he was going and telling Kate about it?
Why did he have so much input in my career with Frank? And how did I not know Kate was audition for this? Did he help her with this one too?
That's what's unfair about this.
I had to get out of my head before I stepped into that room. That's exactly why she did this.
I took a deep breath, hitting the button on my phone to see the picture of Awsten and I at the beach as my wallpaper, then reread his texts from this morning.
Nobody else mattered.
Not Kate.
Not Erik.
Not my stupid ex-manager Renee that had fucked me over.
I was auditioning for the tour of my dreams and the love of my life was cheering me on from across the world.
Everything shitty in my life had led me to this point.
And then the moment came where all 50 of us filed out of the waiting room where we were all stretching into the main studio.
I saw the stack of folders with everyone's headshots in it in the table, knowing mine was in there too.
Kate found a spot in the front - naturally.
I staying in the middle, focusing on keeping my breathing steady and didn't dare look around the room.
That would make me want to vomit.
I had auditioned for the Camilla tour yesterday. That was a breeze - probably because mentally there wasn't that much stake in it for me.
This felt like everything.
If I got this arena tour? I could look at my brother and father knowing after all the bullshit I had gone through and how much I had disappointed them that I had succeeded in something.
And hopefully they'd be proud of me.
My thoughts were interrupted by who I could only assume was the choreographer stepping up from the table in front of all of us, leaving the other three sat as they started going through folders.
Eventually they would get up and start tapping shoulders until there was only a few of us left.
"Hello dancers," Everyone grew quiet as he spoke. "My name is David, and I'll be teaching you the dances today as well as for the rest of the tour if you are chosen..."
He kept talking, and out of my peripheral I saw Kate stand up a bit taller.
He gave the usual run down, explaining the shoulder tapping and if that was you to just exit quietly and to go and get your stuff from the other studio.
Then it was time to learn the first of three dances today - if you made it that far.
The first dance was to Be The One - which I had studied online and had practiced so much last week.
I still watched him though, doing my best to hide that I already knew it. There had to be a balance. I didn't want to come off as cocky - but I also wanted them to know I was prepared.
I was dancing my ass off, counting every beat when I saw the movement over on the right.
It had been nearly an hour when I saw the familiar brunette hair.
I had heard the door, but I thought it was just someone leaving after getting the shoulder tap.
But then she kept walking, and she was right in front of me standing with David as we all watched.
Dua Lipa. At her own audition for her dancers.
That was not normal.
No wonder why they had cut it down to just 50 of us and it wasn't an open casting call anymore.
Dua Lipa was in the fucking room.
I snuck out a deep breath, still keeping pace as the song was ending and watched as someone a few feet away got the tap on the shoulder.
Then I saw Dua lean over to the choreographer next to her while she looked at me.
That's it. I'm done.
Toast.
Especially with Kate feet away from me in the front.
But I kept dancing, pushing through as David walked around and watched.
Then the song ended and I stayed in my pose, only breaking a few seconds after when the song was truly done.
I didn't dare look to my right.
I didn't even attempt to look anywhere except at myself in the mirror.
I couldn't ignore how many dancers were already gone.
They really weren't wasting time.
Then I started counting.
I got to 26 before David was talking again as Dua sat down at the table and started picking up the folders that hadn't been tossed aside.
We ran through the dance twice more until the next one started, then he went back to the first.
It was a test.
All of it was a test.
I looked in the mirror again, watching another girl leave and held my breath.
There had to be only about 12 of us left.
Three spots for women.
Two for men.
And Dua Lipa sat nearly 10 feet from me.
And Kate was still fucking here.
I did the unthinkable and glanced at the table while David talked, making the contact with Dua who was already watching me.
She smiled, and I was immediately caught off guard, but I smiled back, quickly breaking the contact and looked back at David.
Right now we were learning physical. Dance three.
It was the final one - and I had no idea what time it was.
I was starting to get hungry, so I assumed we were at about lunch time.
Which meant my boyfriend was somewhere in Europe playing solitaire before he went on stage.
"Can we take that from the top please?" David asked. His arms were crossed while he watched intently.
Now it was Physical - a dance I didn't know because it hadn't been performed yet.
I went through every step, flipping my hair into the slight body roll we had done and David was feet from me.
It's happening.
I'm going to get the shoulder tap.
But it never came.
Instead he nodded once more so to himself while I kept dancing and kept pace with everyone else in the room.
Before I knew it, it was over.
I caught my breath at the end of the song, looking in the mirror and counted as quickly as I could.
There were 10 including me.
6 women.
4 men.
I had a 50% chance of landing this tour.
"Thank you all so much for your time," David smiled and leaned forward, almost in a bow. "Someone will be in touch with you soon."
And that was it.
I caught Dua's eye one more time as I was turning, feeling Kate on my left as I walked out and went straight for that other studio room so I could collect my things.
"Unbelievable." I heard her mumble, but I didn't react.
Instead I slung my bag over my shoulder and grabbed my phone, dipping out of the room and headed to where I had parked my car a block or so away.
I had messages from Awsten, Fran, and Oscar.
It was a little after one p.m,, so right around lunch time. I decided I would treat myself to Benny's for lunch. I was so hungry.
Was it a bit out of the way? Yeah.
But the comfort of a nice warm sandwich after dancing my ass off for nearly three hours sounded amazing.
I looked at Awsten's messages first which eased me as I walked, stopping at the corner of a cross walk."
Awsten:
HI.
I know you're probably dancing right now but I wanted to say good luck again.
I'll call you when I'm done 🥰
Tatum:
Hi!
I know you're on stage right now probably but we just wrapped up and I'm walking to my car. I made it through to the end
Then I had another text from Fran wishing me luck. Instead of texting her back, I called her.
"Well?!" She answered.
"I don't know yet, but I made it through to the end." I bit down in my lip, watching the crosswalk switch to tell me I could walk. "Dua was there."
"What?! Shut up."
"Yeah...came like an hour in and stayed the rest of the time. Do you know who else was there?"
"Who?"
"Kate." I walked quickly into the parking garage, finding the right elevator and pressed the up button. "I might lose you for a sec, I'm getting in an elevator."
"Okay." She hummed and I tilted my head back as I sighed. "Did she last until the end too?"
"Yup." I nodded to myself even though she couldn't see me. "She also said something to me when we were stretching. She made some comment about me actually auditioning for things and not sucking dick."
"Um woah...I don't even know what to make of that."
"It has to be because of Erik." I said as I dug for my keys in the side of my dance back when I got out of the elevator. "The only people that know I didn't audition for The Weeknd tour is Erik, Jaida, and Frank - at least within the dance company. Jaida wouldn't do that to me, and if Frank was telling anyone that, it leaves room for him to get fired...so that leaves Erik. At this point, he would fully do that to me."
"But why would he tell Kate?"
"She's obsessed with him." I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were hooking up."
"Then what's with the dick sucking comment?"
"I don't know...I thought maybe Erik told her that happened between us? Because of what he said to me last week...like what if I did?"
"There's no way."
"Unless she meant it metaphorically..." I got in my car and started the engine. "We both know there's only one dick I'm sucking."
"Jesus Christ, Tatum!" Francesca howled with laughter.
"Sorry, too much?" I laughed a little, checking my rearview mirror before I went to back out of my spot. "I really don't know though...maybe I did. It's kind of fucking with my head."
"That's what they want! That's what they both want!"
"But like...for her to say it too?"
"He could be lying." She said quietly and I heard a door shut. "Think about it. You've rejected every advance he's ever made on you, then you've got Kate who's up his ass, and quite frankly she's probably an easy lay for him...he probably told her that you two had a thing or something and he's tried to help you to make peace or some stupid shit like that and now here she is - jealous of you. She's insecure."
"I have no idea why." I mumbled, taking the exit onto the highway towards my place. "I'm just...How many other people know about that?"
"Even if they do, it's not your fault."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they won't blame me."
"Tatum, you work so hard. You have busted your ass as long as I know you. Somehow you've managed to still go to dance rehearsals, do photoshoots, go to Pilates classes for Christ's sake, and you've still made time to talk to your boyfriend."
"Yeah...I'm just tired."
"You need a break."
"I'll have a break when I'm with Awsten next week."
"No, no, no. That's not a break. That's traveling and sleeping on mattresses that are super thin. You need just a Tatum day."
"I can't." I groaned.
"You're going to burn out."
"I'll be okay." I sighed and tapped on steering wheel. "I'm chilling for the rest of the day. I'm treating myself to Benny's for lunch, then I'm going to shower, and hopefully by the time I'm done all of that I'll get to talk to my boyfriend."
"You should do a face mask too or something."
"I'm getting my nails done on Friday before I leave for Germany and I think that's the closest I'll get to some self-care before I leave."
"See! There we go. I'll take that."
"Alright, I'll let you go. Get back to work. Love you!"
"Love you too, bye."
I drove myself to Benny's and placed my usual order, drove the 20 minutes home to my place, stuffed my face, then showered.
I slipped on Awsten's sweatshirt - that was definitely losing it's smell - put on sweatpants, then plopped on my couch and picked up one of the books he had gotten me for my birthday.
Truth be told, I really was in my head.
I got through all of five pages before I put the book down, I couldn't read.
How many people thought I was just being handed things?
Erik was telling people - he definitely told Kate. There was no way he hadn't - and she said what she did to me in retaliation.
It was eating me alive that I had no idea what he was talking about with that night - all I felt was guilt.
Guilt for not knowing.
Guilt for telling Awsten nothing had ever happened between Erik and I when that might not be true.
Now guilt for not telling Awsten yet - but I couldn't. He'd freak out - I needed to know first if anything happened.
I just didn't know how I was going to figure that out.
Before my mom passed and things went downhill with Josh, she was really good at talking to me about this stuff.
Even when he treated me like shit and I didn't want to leave him, she never blamed me. We always just talked.
She was coming around on my dancing career the months leading up to her death. She saw me booking more things and actually making a living.
The night she died, I had called her to tell her I had passed on a tour to go on tour with Josh instead.
I already didn't trust him, which should have been enough of a reason to break up with him - I just thought if I was there to support him 24/7 it would make a difference.
She thought I was giving up everything I had worked for for a guy - and she was right to a degree, although I would have never admitted it at the time.
So we fought - I remember crying on the phone with her and telling her that she had always been difficult when it came to my dancing career so why should she try and tell me what was right and wrong when it came to those decisions - that she had always hated Josh or anything that made me happy.
Then I remember hearing her voice, the screeching of tires, metal on metal - and that was it.
She was gone.
There's not a day I didn't regret my entire relationship with him.
And to think he had a child being brought into this world.
If only my mom knew that I had my own place now, that I was in the most loving relationship I had ever been in - and that I just auditioned for the Dua Lipa world tour in front of fucking Dua Lipa.
And I could just say that I was sorry.
My phone was buzzing and I looked down, quickly wiping my eyes as I saw Awsten's name and face lighting up my screen.
He was calling earlier than normal.
"Hey," I answered Awsten's call, fixing the hood of his sweatshirt I was wearing and snuggled deeper into my couch at somewhat of an attempt to hide my face.
"Woah," He said while still catch his breath, still sweaty from the show. "What's wrong? I thought you made it through the audition to the end?"
"I did, I did." I sniffed and quickly wiped my eyes again. "Sorry, I was trying to calm down before you called. I'm just feeling overwhelmed."
"With what, baby?"
"Everything." I blinked and looked up at my ceiling. "Kate was there today, and she was mean and it fucked with my head - and she also made it to the end. If I don't get this and Kate does I'll be so pissed."
"What if you both get it?"
"Oh my god." I groaned with a small scoff. "I don't know. I'll put up with her I guess."
"Want me to give her a piece of my mind?" He asked softly while he paced through the little hallway of their tour bus. "I'll do it. I will walk right up to her and do it."
"No," I laughed while shaking my head. "I want you as far from Kate as possible. It'll just be another thing in my life she tried to go after."
"Don't you know how obsessed I am with you?"
"It's not that," I shook my head. "It's just like...giving her access. She is beautiful though."
"Hey, stop that. You're beautiful...What did she say to you?"
"She was like..." I trailed off, thinking about how much I wanted to tell him. I didn't want to discuss Erik while we were so far apart. "Telling me I needed to start actually auditioning and stop sucking dick."
"What the fuck?" He mumbled. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"She probably knows about The Weeknd tour."
"Hey, that's not on you, baby." He leaned closer. "It's really not. Don't cry."
"I just let it fuck with my head and I'm mad." I told him and wiped my eyes. "Like how many people know and think that about me?"
"Who cares? You show up to dance and bust your ass all the time. It's a petty jab to take you down because of how talented you are. It's out of jealousy."
"I know, it's just still bothering me."
"Is it more than that?"
"Um..." I breathed out. "I think I'm just tired. I wish too I could talk to my mom about all of this...I really miss you - and telling you I miss you feels so selfish. I don't know, it's just a lot."
"It's not selfish," He shook his head and ran his hand through his damp hair. "It's nice to know that you miss me, and I miss you too. I miss you so much. As for the rest of it, don't let this...can I say bitch? Am I allowed to call another woman a bitch?"
"Yeah," I laughed and wiped my eyes while I sniffed. "You can."
"Alright, don't let this bitch take away from a day you've been so excited for. You made it to the end! You crushed it. She said what she said to you to fuck with your head before you went in there, and guess what? It still didn't work. You're a threat to her."
"I love you so much," I pulled my knees into my chest in my sweatpants and held my phone in front. "I really do miss you and I can't wait to see you."
"I miss you more probably." He winked and I laughed again. "I know your mom is really proud of you too."
"Awsten, I just stopped crying!"
"It's true!"
"I'm going to jump you when I see you...not in a like I'm gonna hit you type of way obviously - like a bone crushing hug."
"I welcome that."
"You're all sweaty."
"Well I ran right from the stage to the bus to hear about your audition! Plus you had told me you wanted to see me sweaty."
"That's true, I did."
"So talk to me! You feel good about the audition overall right? Minus Kate."
"Yeah, I really do." I nodded. "Dua came like an hour into it."
"Wait, what?! You didn't tell me that!"
"I wanted to tell you on the phone so I could see you react like this!" A giggle escaped my lips as he paced the bus. "She looked at me a couple of times, but that could mean nothing!"
"You got it." He held up his phone by his chin, flaring his nostrils again.
"You are such a goof."
"Do I have any boogers?"
"That would really suck if you did since you just came off stage, wouldn't it?" I grinned at him.
"There she is."
"I got the flowers you sent too. The front desk held them for me. They're beautiful." I turned my head and looked into my kitchen at the warm toned flowers in their vase. "Thank you."
"You are very welcome." He smiled all cheeky and sat down on the padded bench. "I love you, and I miss you. I'm sorry you're overwhelmed. You should just take a day for yourself."
"Okay, Fran." I mocked with a playful laugh. "I don't have time."
"You have to make time. What is really on your agenda for tomorrow?"
"Um..." I looked up at my ceiling as I thought. "I have to do some laundry, start packing, clean the apartment, I have a meeting-"
"What kind of meeting?"
"Just like a lunch meeting with Frank."
"Cancel that shit." He shook his head. "If it's just a touching base meeting, it can wait.
"That's not professional."
"Neither is inviting another client to your lunch without telling you? Babe, you haven't stopped, and selfishly I don't want you burnt out when you come here. Take the day off, go get a massage, have a bubble bath, read your books. You need a rest day - and if Frank doesn't understand that, he's a shitty manager."
"Awsten..."
"Here, I'll tell you what." The facetime paused and he kept quiet.
"What are you doing?"
"There." He said as I got the Venmo notification. "Get a massage - and a new book - go and get a facemask - just promise me tomorrow you'll take some time for yourself."
"You didn't have to do that-"
"Promise?"
I sighed dramatically, adjusting myself in his sweatshirt.
"I promise."
"Good." He nodded once. "When do you find out?"
"I don't know...more waiting." I sighed with a small shrug and brought my camera closer to my face. "You're a little scruffy."
"Yeah, I have to shave." He rubbed his cheek with his hand. "I was going to when I shower."
"You should be scruffy for me for like a day when I'm there...please?"
Awsten rolled his eyes, his cute little laugh filling the bus while he paced he paced again.
Boy could not sit still.
"I'll see what I can do for you."
"Just do it for me. I love it. You'd do anything for me, right?"
"Ohhh," He chuckled and leaned into the camera. "Is that what we're doing here? You're pulling that card?"
"I am bringing something for you...well like that lingerie for Paris so we could call it even."
"Hmm," Awsten hummed. "I think maybe we can work something out."
"Good." I giggled, getting up from my couch and walked into my kitchen. "Should I make a salmon bowl for dinner or maybe some chicken?"
"Salmon bowl." He told me as I opened the fridge. "Is it dinner time yet?"
"No, not really. I just need to prep."
"You're doing the thing."
"Tomorrow! We agreed on tomorrow!" I pulled out the salmon and set it on the counter. "I can't wait to see you."
"Just a few more days." He hummed. "I miss cooking with you. I miss American food. God I'd kill for Thai."
"We can have some when you get back! I promise. I miss cooking with you too. And cuddles. I miss everything."
"Me too." He sighed. "And we're like...a month out from Thanksgiving."
"I can't believe I will have been to Houston three times this year." I mumbled. "We're still doing matching Christmas pajamas one night - for Christmas."
"Alright." He smiled with his chin rested in his hand. "I think there's a few things we should do for Christmas."
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Well, a baking day for sure. There's also this one neighborhood by my parents place that goes all out for Christmas light every year, we should do that one night."
"Okay." I nodded quickly. "I'd love that. I'm excited for Christmas."
"Good, me too." He hummed. "If I could kiss you right now, I would."
"You're such a flirt."
"It's true!" He giggled again. "Alright, I'm going to shower because being in my own sweat is killing me. Can I call you back in like 20 minutes while I whined down?"
"Of course you can, I'll be here. I need to text Frank and cancel on tomorrow anyway."
"Good. I'll call you right back. Love you."
"Love you too."
He did that little kissy thing at the phone camera and I laughed at him before he hung up. I went over to my spice cabinet and pulled down some spices for my salmon, smiling at the picture of Awsten and I that was on my fridge.
Just a few more days until I could actually jump him.
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