Two-Way Monologues

“Simplicity Magazine, Fashion Department, Anya speaking. How may I assist you?”

“That is a mouth full. Seriously, do you have to say that each time?” Adrian’s deep and familiar voice made Anya smile, even if it was only for a brief moment.

“Only when I’m stuck at the receptionist’s desk. Adrian, is this super important, I’m kind of in the middle of something-“ Anya balanced the phone between her shoulder and her ear as she continued to type up a memo that was supposed to have been sent around the office ten minutes ago.

“I’ll be quick. Well, you know, I’m not quick. I’ve been known to have a lot of endurance, if you know what I’m talking about…” Adrian lowered his voice, making him sound huskier than Anya ever thought imaginable.

If she didn’t have so much to do Anya might have played along by telling him how attractive his voice was. “I’m hanging up now.” Anya said, opting to forgo the compliment.

Adrian laughed at Anya’s tense tone. “When are you getting off of work?”

“At this rate never.” Anya sighed.

“Seriously, I want to take you out to dinner tonight.” Adrian told her. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Forever? It’s been four days and that’s not my fault. You’re the one who always has band practice.” Anya scoffed.

“You know being in a band is supposed to be a cool occupation but the way you say ‘band practice’ makes it sound like something loserly.”

“Loserly is not a word.”

“Anya!” It was Adrian’s turn to be exasperated.

“Okay, okay, dinner.” She laughed. “I get off at five-thirty, okay?”

“Great, babe. Meet me at The Teapot around six?”

“That’s fine. Bye Adrian.” Anya hung up the phone and went back to work- this time with a smile on her face.

*

“Anya, darling, it’s Wednesday and it’s way after five, you know what that means.” Rene Abbot leaned on the receptionist counter and gave Anya a wide grin.

“Hump Day Cocktails!” Ginny McPherson, another intern at Simplicity joined Rene at the counter. “Get your ass in gear lady.”

“As much as I would love to go get sloshed with you two, I have another engagement tonight that I must attend to.” Anya said affecting a haughty tone. She had pulled out her make-up bag and was doing touch-ups at the desk. “A dinner date.”

“He must be a real catch if you’re passing up cocktails with us.” Rene said pretending to be offended. “I hope he’s filthy stinking rich.”

“He’s not.” Anya laughed.

“Well,” Ginny said, joining in. “Is he handsome?”

Anya considered the question for a moment. “Very and charming too.”

“Honey, does he have a brother, preferably a gay one.” Rene laughed.

“An identical twin actually.” Anya tossed her make-up back into her purse and stood up. “But the last time I checked, he wasn’t too interested in men.”

“He hasn’t met Rene then.” Ginny and Anya laughed as Rene walked the invisible catwalk the three of them often created when they were bored and the office was deserted.

“Speaking of which, I’m throwing a party this weekend. I want you both to come.” Anya said leading the way to the elevator.

“Ooh, what’s the occasion?” Ginny asked.

“My friends’ band, The Bandits, is performing at Rumors on Friday. I’m throwing them an after party at my place. Lots of free booze and attractive people.” Anya wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“Count me in.” Ginny laughed. “I never say no to free booze and attractive people.”

“I’ll have to check my schedule, but I think I could pencil you in.” Rene told her.

“How gracious of you.”

*
The Teapot was crowded by the time Anya arrived. Adrian quickly spotted her and waved her over to their table.

“You look gorgeous baby.” Adrian stood when she came over to the table and held her at arms length so he could admire her. Anya had her curls pinned up in a messy bun and she was wearing a dress that Kendra had made especially for her.

“You’re quite the charmer, Mr. Giovanni.” Anya gave him a tight hug. “I’ve missed you.”

“Hey, I thought it was only four days, and not a big deal at all.” Adrian joked, throwing her words back at her.

“Yeah, yeah.” Anya gave him a kiss on the cheek before pulling away and sitting down. “I’ve grown fond of you, I suppose.”

“And I’m fond of you as well.” Adrian laughed and sat down across from her.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s bothering you or is it going to take all night for me to drag it out of you?” Anya asked once their waiter had taken their drink orders.

“Nothing’s bothering me.” Adrian shrugged.

“Yeah right. You forget how well I know you.” Anya insisted.

“Well, you’re off this time.” Adrian argued. “I’m fine.”

Anya rested her head in her hand. “Come on Adrian, level with me a little. You haven’t been around at all this week and then you call me up at work, invite me to dinner at our favorite place, in the middle of the week, you’re either depressed about something or you have something bad to tell me. Which is it?”

“You think you know me so well.” Adrian said feeling a little annoyed that it was the truth.

“I do you know you that well, just like you know all my little ticks.” Anya grinned. “I like to think of us a an old married couple- you know, we have our routines, and we like to stick to them.”

“An old married couple?” Adrian was appalled by that notion.

“Think about it.” Anya nodded her head vigorously. “We’re not having sex but we frequently share a bed, you fix stuff around the apartment and kill spiders for me, I make you pancakes and bake you cookies, and we have our routines. Get it?”

“Oh I get it.” Adrian said shaking his head. “I just think it’s disturbing. Is this the moment when we’re supposed to make a pact that if we’re both like forty and unwed we’ll marry each other? I think I saw that in a movie once.”

“Adrian, we don’t have to make that pact. It’s a given.” Anya laughed at his disgruntled facial expression. “Oh come on don’t look so upset. When you accepted your position as my best friend you knew you were accepting a certain set of responsibilities and duties as well. Marriage is one of them.”

“You’re insane, you know that. Really insane.” Adrian shook his head. “So we’re betrothed?”

“Well, only conceptually. You haven’t asked me properly yet.” Anya batted her eyelashes at him.

“You know, you’re right.” There was a mischievous glint in his eyes and Anya squirmed in her seat a little.

“Yes…”

“Anya Louisa Rhys Rosario,” Adrian was down on one knee before Anya could react. “From the moment I asked you if I could borrow both a pen and paper for that pop quiz in American Lit, your freshman year, I have known that you were the only woman I would ever love.”

“Adrian! Get up, people are watching us.” Anya hissed, looking around the busy restaurant.

“I know that things have not always been easy, you know with my gambling problem and that pregnancy scare last year.” Adrian chuckled to himself despite Anya’s horrified expression. To anyone watching though she must have looked like a woman stunned into silence from the way her eyes were wide and she was covering her mouth. “But you have stuck by me all of this time.”

“Adrian, seriously, stop!” Anya whispered again, grasping at his hands. Adrian, however, had something else in mind. He took her hands in his and slipped off his silver ring and placed it onto her thumb.

Looking into her eyes, he continued with his speech. “Anya, you are my best friend and my lover, the only woman, I will ever love. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

Adrian said the last part loud enough that everyone in close proximity could hear him. Anya gaped at him, unsure of how to respond.

“Say yes!” Someone shouted. Anya looked around, noticing that everyone in the Teapot now had their attention on her and Adrian. Looking at the smug and amused face that Adrian had, Anya decided not to let him get the best of her.

“Oh Adrian, of course I’ll marry you. I love you so much.” And without further commentary, Anya flung herself onto the ground next to him, slipping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a tight hug.

The restaurant erupted into cheers and pretty soon everyone was chanting for the newly engaged couple to share a kiss.

“Wouldn’t want to let down the people, now would me.” Anya laughed at Adrian’s slightly stunned face. She leaned in to whisper into his ear. “You shouldn’t start things that you’re not prepared to finish Mr. Giovanni.” Anya placed a hand on the back of his neck, her fingers sliding into his curly shag, and pulled his head down to hers. The kiss started as soft and innocent, like many they had shared before, but quickly erupted into something more.

Both were hesitant at first. Unsure of their actions and emotions. Adrian felt his body reacting to the taste and feel of Anya’s lips on his own. He suddenly couldn’t think of a reason to feel hesitant. He teased her bottom lip with his tongue, silently asking her for permission to deepen this kiss- and she didn’t refuse him.

All at once, it seemed to Anya, that his tongue was playing with her own. She could feel the unmistakable stir of desire in her stomach, a feeling she hadn’t felt since… what was his name? Anya couldn’t think, she was too caught up in the sensation of kissing Adrian. It was almost an out of body experience. Was that her moaning softly into his mouth as he pulled her closer to his body, holding her tightly to him? And then suddenly it was over.

Anya blinked a few times before she could actually see anything again. She was met with Adrian’s cocky grin and again that look in his eyes that she couldn’t quite place.

“You know Anya, I don’t think you should start things that you’re not prepared to finish.”