by Ava Zavora
When I drink a lot, not a lot happens. When I drink an inhuman amount, I become reasonably quiet and intensely observant (more so than usual for the latter). There are occasions that warrant such, yes.
Always the same. Black boxer shorts, white vest, all the same style. However, the question was directed at you.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 9:27 AM
To: Adam -
I'm not supposed to ask who your important visitor is? So who is it?
You let iTunes dictate what you listen to? Are you sure you're not bleeding?
I own plenty of cardigans. And eat granola copiously at the commune where I was raised. My real name is Starflower.
Why do you wear a vest as underwear? Don't you wear it on top of your shirt?
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 9:34 AM
To: Eden E
A man I used to work with years ago, and quite a prominent figure locally.
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I select a genre, then let it do its thing.
The hairiest starflower in the west.
You avoided the question, after I so graciously answered it.
A vest is a sleeveless T-shirt.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 9:45 AM
To: Adam -
My underwear is to be seen in person and not discussed with someone whom I've never even set eyes upon and won't do me the courtesy to introduce himself properly.
Oh, we Americans eloquently refer to it as a "wifebeater."
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 9:49 AM
To: Eden E
Introduce myself properly?
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 10:15 AM
To: Adam -
You're waiting for your important visitor so I will excuse you.
Good afternoon.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 10:16 AM
To: Eden E
If you're busy/want to leave, please don't make what I'm doing your reason to leave.
Good afternoon.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 11:10 AM
To: Eden E
Cooking pork loin stuffed with garlic, rosemary and other herbs and sautéed potatoes with artichoke hearts and Tuscan beans.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 11:47 AM
To: Eden E
Any chance of you feigning an emergency today as per your suggestion the other day?
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 12:32 PM
To: Adam -
What are you talking about?
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 12:34 PM
To: Eden E
The other day you suggested making an excuse to leave work early so we could talk sooner.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 12:35 PM
To: Adam -
I can't since one of the other legal secretaries is leaving early today. I can go to a Starbucks on my lunch hour and talk to you there. But I can only talk for about 40 minutes.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 12:41 PM
To: Eden E
We could do that :) If it’s not too much trouble.
"What have I done now?" Adam asked. There was only the barest hint of frustration in his voice.
"What do you mean?" Eden replied, affecting nonchalance. She was at Starbucks on her lunch hour, sitting outside with an ice mocha.
"Well, you've been a bit harsh with me today and yesterday. Please don't say you're fine. I know something's wrong."
Eden took a deep breath before replying. "I'm having a hard time with all this. But you prefer it, don’t you?”
“Prefer what?”
“You being there. Me over here. You like that thousands of miles separate us.”
“That’s ridiculous! This isn’t the way I would have chosen to meet you. But now that we’re here, we have to make the best of it. What traumatized you so much that you’re suspicious of everything and everyone?”
“Nothing happened to me!” Eden denied quickly, her voice too high. “I understand why you're not going to give me a photo. But, well --- do you know where I work?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"I work with the District Attorney's Office, Adam. I see cases pass through my desk, all the time, with women who get conned or taken advantage of, and I read their stories and think, 'Couldn't they tell this guy's up to no good?' It's like they brought it on themselves."
"So you're saying I'm up to no good?"
"No, but you have to admit." Eden jumped up and started pacing the courtyard outside of the cafe. She lowered her voice as people were starting to look at her. "Everything you say - it may be normal to you, but to ordinary people like me, it sounds strange. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I suppose so. Don't you think that I have the same concerns about you? It's as much a leap of faith with me as it is with you."
"I'm more transparent than you are. You know what I look like, what I do, where I work. You want to know what kind of underwear I have on but I don't even have your last name!"
"You can have my last name," he said with reluctance.
"Well?"
"It's Carter."
"Adam Carter?"
"Yes."
"It sounds made up."
"Jesus Christ! What about you? How do I know you're not just looking for some rich fool to take care of you and your son?"
Eden stopped pacing, desperately trying to stay the urge to hurl her iPod.
"What did you say?"
Adam must have heard the fury in her voice because he started to protest.
"Look, I know that's not what you're about. I'm just giving an example of--"
"You listen to me, Adam Carter," she interrupted, underscoring his name with a venomous snarl, "I don't need your money. I've got money of my own. For your information, if I wanted a ‘rich fool', I'd certainly look much closer to home than Sicily. I don’t need anyone to take care of me and Dante. I’ve been taking care of us just fine without anyone’s help."
There was silence on the other end.
"If that's what you really think, then we might as well end it now."
“End it? Aren’t you over-reacting? I’m just trying to get you to see my perspective. You know about my past relationships.”
“Yes, I do.” Eden stopped pacing and took another deep breath. “That’s why I didn’t hang up on you when you pretty much called me a gold-digger.”
“Well, you pretty much called me a liar and a fraud.” He lowered his tone, more gently this time. “I’ve been nothing but honest with you. And if the truth sounds strange, it’s because it is strange. I don’t make up things.”
Eden was quiet, remorse setting in as suddenly as the eruption of her fury.
“It’s a leap of faith for both of us.”
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:16 PM
To: Adam -
nude lace
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:21 PM
To: Eden E
Nude lace? I was in the shower ... NAKED.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:22 PM
To: Adam -
You're just taking a shower now? Or you take showers twice a day?
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:27 PM
To: Eden E
Twice a day, though sometimes I don't in the evening.
You were referring to your underwear? It's one case where I prefer the American word. We say “knickers” and I believe you say “panties” and I think the latter is far more appropriate for such an intimate attirement.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:33 PM
To: Adam -
Do you wear cologne?
Yes.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:45 PM
To: Eden E
I wear Armani Code October to May and Agua Lavanda over the summer.
They sound nice.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:47 PM
To: Adam -
Do you put it on every day? Where?
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:49 PM
To: Eden E
Every day. On my neck/lower face.
Do we still have a date at 5 PM?
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:57 PM
To: Adam -
I might be a little bit late. I'm stopping off at a store which I think carries Agua Lavanda.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 2:58 PM
To: Eden E
Why are you stopping there? In actual fact, out of the two, I vastly prefer the Armani Code.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:00 PM
To: Adam -
Because I want to smell you. Isn't that what you're wearing now?
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:02 PM
To: Eden E
Yes, it is what I'm wearing now. But, if for example, even though it's summer, I was meeting you tonight, I'd wear the Armani.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:16 PM
To: Adam -
Alright, describe a scene for me. It's our first date. You've showered for the second time that day and wearing Armani Code. Would you take me out to dinner or a lunch or coffee at a cafe? What would you be wearing?
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:19 PM
To: Eden E
Dinner. Italian food. Menu and wine pre-ordered before our arrival. Black suit, black shirt, black tie. I'd have the restaurant play music specifically chosen by me as well.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:23 PM
To: Adam -
Pre-ordered? What if you ordered a Bolognese sauce not knowing that I don't eat beef? Do you [and I am not asking this in a cold or outraged manner] usually order for your dates?
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:25 PM
To: Eden E
I don't go on dates. So this would be an exception.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:26 PM
To: Adam -
Mouth open.
Please explain the second to last sentence.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:28 PM
To: Eden E
Your mouth is open? Thank you, darling, but I told you, I don't like fellatio.
I don't go on dates. My previous relationships just happened. No dating involved.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:31 PM
To: Adam -
You meet a woman. "Hello, my name is Adam. I'd like a relationship with you, please, but hold the fellatio." Is that how it goes?
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:34 PM
To: Eden E
Something along those lines, yes. No, no, it's usually been someone I've known in some capacity and we've just drifted into it.
By the way, Edie, my name is Adam, I'd like a relationship with you please, but hold the fellatio.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:37 PM
To: Adam -
Darling, I don't think you've ever "drifted" into anything in your life.
I'll have to think about it. That fellatio thing is a tough one to get over.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:42 PM
To: Eden E
You are a “giver” shall we say?
Well, dates weren't involved, either way.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:43 PM
To: Adam -
But you did go on dates within a relationship?
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:44 PM
To: Eden E
Well, we did go out and did fun things, does that count?
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:45 PM
To: Adam -
Fun most definitely counts.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:45 PM
To: Eden E
Then yes ;)
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:47 PM
To: Adam -
So you were the couple at the beach where the guy was lying on a towel sunbathing in a three-piece suit? I always wondered who that was.
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From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:48 PM
To: Eden E
Haha no, but my chest would be covered in public, always, because of my scar.
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From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 9, at 3:50 PM
To: Adam -
How about at home? Do you always wear a vest even when it's hot and you're by yourself?
