Page 36 of Stealth Mission
“Bank robbery, an explosion…and an earthquake. What’s next, girlfriend?”
“Right. I hope nothing. I really can’t take any more stress.”
Everything around me looks normal, even feels normal, but inside I’m unsteady. My heart is skipping and not because of Mr. Hotness. “That was two quakes in less than ten minutes.”
Her excitement morphs into concern. “Oh! Are you okay?”
“Yeah, this one was tiny, plus I’m outside. I just hope that nothing happens like the disaster in Santa Rosa a few days ago. Did you hear about that?”
“I did. The news said everyone was okay but a lot of buildings were damaged. Is that true?”
“There were some injuries. Rumor was an American had to be flown back to the states in critical condition. Most of the little town was destroyed. A lot of rescue teams from all over the world were here in Vandemora searching. Everyone was so grateful for the help.”
“Those guys and women are badass. I can’t imagine doing that job.” She makes a rough sound. “That’s a different breed—someone that can charge into danger like that.”
“It is. And I think I just met a man like that.” My heart beats rapidly for a different reason and my lips curl into a happy shape. Like a really big one that crinkles my eyes.
After Mellie sucks air, she dives in with both feet. “Girl. What is happening right now? You met someone!?!”
“There’s a man. Shocker, I know.” I wait as she shouts something. When she’s done, I continue. “Like a real man, kind of a modern day knight in shining armor, he rushed into the bank to save me from the robbery.”
She’s shocked silent.
“Well, let me back up. Not me specifically, but anyway, he was about to charge into the bank to make sure everyone was okay.”
Out of her shocked state, Mellie sighs dramatically. “Swoon. Was it Captain America?”
“Kind of, but darker and more edgy with this sexy southern accent. I think he’s from the bayou or someplace like that. I really don’t know the Southern U.S. that well, but you get my picture.”
“Dayum. Girl.”
“It gets better.”
Her breathing gets fast. Is she running? “Mellie, take it easy there, you sound like you might need an inhaler.”
“Funny.Now, please for the love of god, tell me you broke your drought and this knight in shining armor resuscitated your…” Mellie’s voice drops to a loud whisper, “lady parts.”
I press my face into my knees more as heat builds around my cheeks.
Leave it to Mellie to say lady parts. Sometimes her vocabulary is straight out of the 1950s.
“My dry spell is not that bad. I had sex when I was living in California for school.”
She snorts and ribs me. “You had sex for school, or while you were in school?”
“Are you going to pick apart everything I say?”
“Yes, how many years ago did you have sexy times?”
Now I grimace. Almost three, but I will not say that aloud. “Can we leave my very boring no-sexy-time life out of this?”
“Marianna, you called me to tell me about this MAN. Now, please tell me about Captain America’s goth southern cousin, before I lose my mind.”
Goth…where did she get that?
“He’s not goth, he’s just… dangerous. You know, dark eyes, bad boy vibe in an I-can-snap-people’s-necks kind of way.”
An evil little laugh comes through the phone. “Oooh. Now that’s a tasty description. I bet he’s good with ropes.”