I Love Dialogue from Love on a Catwalk

Miranda Karev has lived across the hall from Jeffry Stanton for just over a year. For nine months of that time, they were a couple—until Jeff said he loved her. Haunted by fears of abandonment, she breaks it off. Lucky for her, Jeff decides he wants another chance and Miranda does too. Unfortunately, her therapist has suggested she give celibacy a try, so they are spending the weekend snowed in and getting to know each other—without sex. Her co-worker calls to make sure she's all right.

My phone rang. I thought it might be Dr. Meyers.

"Hiya, Randi. It's Dave. You okay?"

"Yes. Got our power and water. You?"

"Not bad. We're partying over here."

I could hear talking and music in the background. Dave, his younger brother and many of the other tech people and actors lived in apartments over the theater. Brent and Shaine let them live there rent free. They did help with utility bills, but the lack of city rent was nice. Brent offered me one, but I already had this place when I started working there. Jeffry and I had just met.

"Sounds like you're having fun."

"Yeah, not bad. Don't suppose you want to come over?"

"We can't. That's a long way on foot and our parking lot is blocked by an eight foot wall of snow."

"Hadn't thought of that. Well, wanted to check on you."

"Thanks, Dave. Tell everyone I said hi. We're fine."

"We...." He said, sounding very disappointed. "So, working out with Jeff?"

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"Hey, that's life, right? Lost opportunities and broken chances. I guess I'm gonna polish off this bottle of Cuervo and head to bed—alone."

"Ew, Jose Cuervo is not my friend. Now, me and Jack Daniels, we're buddies."

"Bing drank the last of the Jack and Bern snagged the Johnny Walker."

"No Jim Beam?"

"Colt's got that."

"How long have you guys been drinking?"

"What time is it?"

"Almost six o'clock."

"Yeah...." He paused so long, I thought he'd forgotten me. "I believe we started at noon, but I could be mistaken. There was food, then there was booze. Now I'm lying on Colt's floor staring at the ceiling clutching a half empty bottle and talking to you."

"I think you need to put the bottle down and pass out."

"I think that sounds like 'n accepta-bibble option." He hiccuped loudly. "Okay, that's it. Make the room stop spinning!"

I heard the phone clatter. Someone picked it up and spoke into it the wrong way around. Some fumbling and muttering followed, then I got a better response.

"Hi. Who's this?"

"Dave? I was talking to Dave."

"You can't be Dave, because he's lying here passed out and—cause," he burped loudly, "you're a girl."

"This is Miranda."

"Oh, hi, Randi. This is Bing—Bing Crosby. How're you?"

"Fine. You can hang up now, Bing. I need to go."

"Okay."

© 2016 Dellani Oakes

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