Kai settled in her soft computer chair, cracking her knuckles in anticipation. Smiling broadly as his name popped up on her instant messenger. She couldn't help herself, he made her smile as if nothing else in the world mattered to her and for these moments in time, nothing else did. Not her crappy job, not her sometimes distant husband or his children playing noisly behind her. Nothing matter as long as she was right here talking to him.
Tony sighed as he watched her name flash on the screen. He couldn't believe that this woman, a veritable stranger to him made him feel this way. He could have the worst day in history and just seeing her say hello to him made it all evaporate like snow melting on a sunny day. He used to feel this way about his wife, but lately things haven't been like they used to be.
"Hey babe..how was your day?" Kai typed, her heart dancing in her chest. These moments were precious and dear to her. She couldn't even remember the last time she asked her husband about his day. Quite frankly, the tirade that followed was beyond tiresome. But, she actually looked forward to hearing about this stranger's day. She read the screen, absentmindedly nodding her head as if she actually could hear his voice instead of reading his words.
"But enough about my day, how have you've been beautiful?" Tony typed after laying his troubles down for this woman. This woman who asked nothing from him, wanting nothing in return. She just listened, gave her compasion, sympathy and her sagely advice. He couldn't remember the last time his wife seemed remotely interested in the daily things in his life.
Back and forth they exchanged pleasant conversation, ranging from their collective work days, gripes about their co-workers and bosses, even talking about the antics of their young children. Never once did they mention their spouses. It was their world, the spouses did not exist.
"Um, Eyce I need to tell you something" Kai typed. She knew his real name, but it was easier to call him by his screen name, lessening the possibilites of her husband walking in and seeing it.
"What's up PhYrE?" He loved her screen name, the way it reflected her creative personality, but he loved her real name even more.
"Remember I mentioned that it was a possbility that I might be in your neck of the woods right?"
"Oh yeah, I remember you saying something about that."
"Well..." she stopped typing for a minute, the sound of the key unlocking the door interupting her. "Look you-know-who is coming in. I don't have much time, but I WILL be in your neck of the woods in two days. Three day business trip...." she paused again, taking a deep breath, listening to the kids play with their dad," I want to see you."
Tony looked hard at the screen, not fully understanding what she had typed.
"You still there?? Do you want to see me?"
An eternity seemed to pass for Kai. The sounds of her husband's footsteps coming closer to her sent her into a near panic state.
"Yeah, I want to see you."
Kai nearly shouted in glee when she saw his response. "Good....I'll beep you when I get there to let you know where I'll be staying. Gotta go...Luv ya *smooches*" She quickly typed, shutting her instant messenger down just in the nick of time, her husband walked into her office.
"Sup Kai. Dinner ready yet?" Bryan asked, chastely kissing her on the cheek. Kai's eyes inexplicably stung with tears at his lack of affection.
Tony stared at the screen, half in shock, half in delight. He couldn't believe that in two days he would finally be able to see her face to face. He didn't know what he was going to do. Then reality came strolling through the door.
"Damn Tony, I leave and you're at the computer, I come back and you're still there." Grace said, tossing her coat on the couch. There was no "honey how was your day?" Just the sounds of cabinets slamming.
The next two days were the longest days in both their lifetimes. Kai was so busy making the necessary arrangements for her trip that she didn't have time to talk to Tony. That was her way of relaxing so she was so wound up that she snapped on anyone who said her name more than once. Tony on the other hand was stressing out completely trying to figure out how he could get away to spend time with her. He finally came to the idea of trip to see his mother. Grace couldn't stand his mom and vice versa.
"Okay Bryan, the number where I'll be is on the fridge. Tasha will pick the kids up and take them to and from the daycare. I already paid her so that's taken care of." Kai said, buttoning up her navy pea coat. Her suitcase was already in the trunk of her car.
"Aight Kai." Bryan said, his eyes never leaving the football game.
"No 'have a safe trip' or 'call me when you get there' or 'I love you'?"
"W-what did you say? Dammit Kai you made me miss the penalty call."
Kai didn't even say anything as she walked blindly out of the door. Once inside her car, she let the frustrating tears burn her smooth brown sugar colored cheeks.
"And to think I was feeling bad about going to meet him." she muttered, as she sped away.
"Grace I'm gonna go see my mom. You wanna go?"
"Oh hells no. You can have that, I'll stay here with the baby." Grace couldn't stand his mother. Wild horses couldn't drag her there. "How long are you going to be there?"
"A couple of days. Is tha cool with you?"
"Yeah, it's no problem. Spend time with your mother, Lord knows I won't." Normally he would check her on the attitude, but now he didn't care. All he cared about was the fact that he was going to be able to finally see her.
Once Kai got settled in her hotel suite, she quickly fished out Tony's pager number and beeped him, putting her code number after the room number.
Tony sat on his mother's sofa watching the football game with his brothers when the sudden vibrations from his pager startled him. Looking at the digital screen, he didn't recognize the number at first, but then he saw the code number that Kai used.
"Mom-ma where's the phone?"
"Here boy, that wife of yours already giving you hard way to go?" she laughed, handing him the cordless phone. He ignored her comments and quickly dialed the number.
Kai snatched the phone up on the first ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey"
Kai's heart burst as she heard his voice.
"Where and when?" she asked him.
"There's a club called Infinity. Nine o'clock."
"I'll be there, wearing all black."
