As always this story is exclusively my property and may not be republished or redistributed without my permission. Any resemblance to people or places living, dead or non-existent is merely a coincidence.
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Greg sat in his bedroom with his cellphone in his hand. It was his eighteenth birthday and he was as nervous as hell. In his other hand was a crumpled scrap of paper with a name and phone number on it. He'd carried that little flimsy in his wallet for four years, waiting for this day to arrive.
Greg was a tall, lanky guy, he wasn't heavily muscled but he had a wiry definition and strength. His dirty blond hair was cut short and slicked back. Girls always fell in love with his gray-green puppy-dog eyes and long lashes.
Even though he was a good looking guy Greg had never had a girlfriend all through highschool. He'd patiently waited until today to see what would happen. Greg was so worried that he'd be rejected that his stomach was in knots.
'God man you'll never know unless you call her!' he thought to himself. Greg took a deep breath to steady his jittery nerves. He looked at the paper and started punching in the number.
The phone rang three times then a woman answered. "Hello? Hello!"
Greg quickly pushed the end button on his phone. He was shaking even more now, it had been her. He recognized her voice instantly. That sultry voice of the girl who'd captivated him at his cousin Chiara's four Christmases ago. His phone rang and he jumped, dropping his phone on the floor. Greg scooped it up and checked the screen. It was her, she was calling him back.
---
Annie was out at dinner with her boyfriend Phil. To say she was beautiful would be a gross understatement. With her long raven hair, flashing black eyes and well toned, statuesque body she was a masterpiece of feminine excellence.
They'd just gotten their entrees when her cell rang. She looked at the screen but didn't recognize the number.
Out of curiosity she answered the call, "Hello? Hello!" She looked across the table and gave Phil a perplexed look, "That was weird, no one was there."
Phil laughed and winked, "Another secret admirer babe?"
Annie barked out a laugh, "Not that I know of. I'm going to call the number back, hold on."
---
Greg gulped and answered his phone, "H-hello?"
There was that voice again, "Hi I just got a call from this number? Is there anything I can do for you?"
"A-Annie, Annie Montgomery?"
"Yes that's me, who's this?"
Greg stammered, "Uhm, Annie? It's ah me, Greg. Greg Lanceri? I don't know if you remember me?"
"Greg? Little Greg from Christmas at Kiki's? Oh my God, it's been forever! How are you sweetie?"
"I'm okay, uhh I just turned eighteen and I called to say hi like we planned?" Greg said in a shy voice.
"Listen honey I'm right in the middle of something, can I call you later?"
Greg was crestfallen, he felt like he was getting the brush-off. "Uh sure okay. Talk to you later?"
Annie's voice sparkled over the phone, "Definitely sweetie! Just give me a bit okay?"
"Okay bye."
---
Annie looked at Phil with a Cheshire cat grin. "Wow, I thought he would've forgotten about me by now."
Phil shook his head with a wry grin, "So what was that all about babe?"
"Remember when me and Marc were at Kiki's for Christmas? Well I met her little cousin Greg. He was such a sweetie, fawning all over me and just being so cute. When they left I slipped him my number and told him to look me up when he got older."
Phil grinned at Annie, "So let me guess, he's older now? Like legal older?"
Annie laughed, "Apparently so Phil. What am I going to do? I promised him I'd show him a good time when he got legal. I don't want to disappoint the poor kid."
"So don't," Phil replied. "We're secure enough that this won't be an issue hon. I totally trust you and know you'd do the right thing with him. Go out with him, have fun, then show Greg a good time. You have my support on this okay?"
Annie was a bit dumbfounded, she hadn't expected Phil to go along with this that easily. "You're okay with this? Seriously?"
Phil chuckled, "If I'm okay with you and Chiara fooling around, why wouldn't I be okay with you giving this nice kid a special birthday present?"
Annie's jaw dropped and she was stunned speechless for a second. "You know about me and Kiki? How long have you known?"
"I've known for a while baby, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure it out. Every time you two have a girls night you come home flushed and smelling like sex."
Annie laughed until she was breathless. The other people in the restaurant were giving her and Phil funny looks.
"And here I thought you had no idea about us!"
"To be honest Annie I think it's pretty hot. You know how bad I had it for Kiki. To see you two together would be totally awesome!"
Annie gave Phil her Cheshire cat grin again, "If you're a good boy I might be able to swing it babe."
---
It had been two hours and Greg felt like shit. He should've known that Annie was going to dust him. He was almost in tears he was so mad at himself.
There was a soft knock at his door and his older sister Yvette poked her head in, "Hey Greggie, everything okay?"
"Fuck off sis I'm not in the mood." Greg lashed out.
"Hey whoa! I was just making sure you were okay. I heard you cursing and muttering and I thought I could maybe be an ear for you."
"Sorry 'Vette, I just had a lousy phone call and got dusted." Greg said dejectedly.
Yvette smiled sympathetically at Greg as she sat beside him, "Lemme guess, Annie?"
Greg wiped at his eyes, trying to stem his tears. "Yeah, I called her like she said to and she blew me off."
Yvette hugged Greg and rested her head on his shoulder. "A lot can change in four years Greg, she might be married, have a boyfriend. Who knows?"
Greg hugged his sister back, "You're probably right, it was stupid of me to hope she meant it for so long. Thanks sis."
Yvette kissed his cheek, "I know it hurts little brother. Been there, done that."
"Yeah but I waited for her, I never dated or anything! I feel like an idiot."
"Remember Robbie Ford? Remember how bad I had it for him, and he didn't even know I existed? Annie wasn't like that, I think she liked you. She'd be dumb if she didn't at least call you back." Yvette said as she gave him another hug.
Greg's cell rang. He checked it and whooped with glee. "It's her! It's her!"
Yvette laughed at him, "Well answer it dummy!"
"Uh hello?"
"Hi Greg, it's Annie. Sorry I didn't call you sooner but I was out to dinner with a friend."
Greg was vibrating with excitement and had a wide grin on his face, "That's okay Annie, I'm glad you were able to call back."
"So now you're all grown up I guess? You must be a lady killer by now." Annie said with a chuckle.
Greg blushed and his sister stifled a giggle. "I'm not much of a lady's man, I was too busy getting good grades."
"I missed you at Chiara's wedding last summer. I thought for sure you'd be there."
"I wanted to go Annie but I was up north on a tree planting crew." Greg replied.
"That's too bad, I was reserving a slow dance for you sweetie."
Greg laughed, "Aww man! I was up to my neck in mosquitoes and deer flies!"
"So what are you doing next weekend?" Annie asked slyly.
Greg got all nervous again and Yvette was turning blue trying to hold back her laughter.
"Uhm, well nothing I guess."
"Well if I recall I promised to take you out and show you a good time when you got older. How about dinner and a movie or whatever else you'd like to do?"
"Uhh, sure yeah, that'd be great!" Greg replied as he blushed again.
"Great! How about seven thirty at 'El Stavros'?"
"Yeah sure, seven thirty at 'El Stavros' would be great!"
Annie laughed, "Okay honey I'll see you Saturday night then."
Greg hung up and looked totally stunned. Yvette finally released her pent up laughter.
"Oh my God! I never knew you could blush in so many shades of red!"
"She's taking me out. She wants to go out with me and do whatever I want." Greg said in a soft voice.
Yvette gave Greg a big hug and kiss on the cheek, then mussed his hair. "See? Annie didn't forget you. So dinner at 'El Stavros' huh? That's a swanky place, she must be wanting to impress you!"
"She said we could do whatever I wanted..."
"I think I can guess what you want to do, the way you've been since you met her!" Yvette said with a giggle.
Greg chuckled, "Hey a guys gotta have a dream ya know."
"More like a wet dream, and yours is six feet tall and gorgeous."
"Can I help it if I've been obsessed? I think I've got good taste personally."
Yvette tousled Greg's hair again, "Well if I were into girls I'd be into Annie too. She's pretty hot little brother. Just don't burn yourself out before Saturday okay?"
---
Greg lay awake most of that night. All he could think about was Annie and how nice she'd been to him. That kiss she'd given him at Christmas kept playing through his mind over and over. She was the first girl he'd ever kissed and it had almost blown his socks off. Then he had found that little slip of paper in his pocket. With those few simple words 'Call me when you're eighteen, Annie.' and her phone number. And now she wanted to go out with him! Saturday couldn't come soon enough!
---
Greg was working with his Dad at his contracting company to make some money for college. It was hard work and his Dad didn't play favourites, Greg had to work just as hard as the other guys.
Greg was busy framing with another guy.
"Hey! Greg pay attention man!"