I stare at my phone in confusion.
There’s a hot guy staring back at me…
When it should be my best friend.
Did I FaceTime the wrong person?
Maybe I’m sicker than I thought…
Steph
Uhhh…you’re not Teri.
I squint to get a better look.
Guy
Don’t tell me you don’t recognize your best friend’s brother!
I seriously cannot believe my eyes.
Last I saw Teri’s brother…
He was a lanky kid with acne and braces.
Now all I see are muscles, golden skin and a devilish smile.
Steph
Bobby, that’s you??
Bobby
What happened to yours??
Steph
Wow, little Bobby Conners!
Steph
What are you doing home??
Steph
I thought you were living in Australia.
Bobby
But 10 years is long enough in the land down under.
Bobby
Just bought a house on Main Street.
Steph
What?! Right here in town?
Bobby
Yeah. It’s kind of my pet project.
The super hot guy in front of me…
Is literally living just minutes away.
I seriously don’t know what to say to him right now.
Bobby was always the annoying younger brother.
He was constantly bothering Teri and me during our teenage years.
Or, he’d be face-deep in a video game.
Steph
Teri didn’t mention it.
And she definitely hasn’t sent me any recent photos!
Bobby
Yeah, I surprised everyone a few days ago.
Steph
Ah. That explains it.
Steph
I haven’t been taking many calls recently…
Bobby suddenly leans closer to the phone.
I can only imagine what he sees.
My frail body swathed in a ratty bathrobe.
I clutch the lapels together at my neck.
I feel like someone’s Aunt Mildred.
Bobby
It’s really good to see you again, Steph…
Bobby
But seriously, you don’t look so hot.
I blow out a tired breath.
Steph
I have the Chicken Pox.
His eyebrows fly comically far up his forehead.
Bobby
But you’re like 30!
He still knows how to get under my skin.
Steph
Hey! I’m in my late twenties.
Bobby
Mannnn, that sucks.
Bobby
Aren’t you supposed to get those out of the way as a kid?
Steph
But I never got them, so I…
He stands and I lose every coherent thought in my brain.
Because Bobby Conners is shirtless.
I can’t help my roaming eyes.
I feel my cheeks get hot.
Steph
You just look different, that’s all.
Bobby
Probably that Australian sun.
Steph
I only remember you in front of a computer screen.
Bobby
Oh, I usually still am.
Bobby
But at least now I get paid for it.
Steph
Teri told me you’re a video game developer.
Bobby
My childhood dream.
Bobby
Well, one of them, anyway
Bobby
But it’s the only thing I ever wanted to do for work.
I do a quick calculation in my mind.
If Bobby bought his own house…
Sheesh! This is blowing my mind.
Steph
Wait, why are you answering Teri’s phone?
Bobby
She left it here by mistake.
Bobby
Got called into work an hour ago and rushed out.
Steph
Did she say when she’d be back??
Bobby
But what do you need her for?
I raise a skeptical brow.
Steph
Like the time you offered to shovel my car out…
Steph
And put all the snow in my backseat?
Bobby has the nerve to start laughing.
Bobby
Oh man, that was hilarious!
Bobby
You were so easy to rile up.
Steph
It would NOT have been easy to dump loads of snow in my back seat!
Steph
Or what about that time I was going on my first date…
Steph
And you put a dead mouse in my purse?
This time, Bobby presses his lips together to keep his laugh in.
Bobby
I’ve grown up since then.
Bobby
Seriously, let me help.
His smile is still devilish…
But there’s a glint of something else in his eyes.
I don’t remember seeing THAT when we were younger.
I try to tamp my feelings down.
Steph
I’ll figure out something else…agh!
Out of nowhere, my chest starts itching something fierce.
I go at it with my fingernails like some sort of fiend.
Bobby
I don’t think you’re supposed to scratch like that.
Steph
I ran out of itch cream.
God, I’m so freakin’ miserable.
I watch Bobby grab a shirt from the floor.
Bobby
I’m going to get you some.
Bobby
It’ll make up for all the stuff I did to you back in the day.
Bobby
Call you back when I get to the store.
Bobby
Okay, I’m at the pharmacy.
Bobby
But before I go in…
Bobby
Do you need anything else besides itch cream?
I should probably just tell him the truth.
Steph
I do need something else.
Steph
But do you promise not to make any stupid jokes like you used to?
Bobby
Ohh, this is gonna be good.
Bobby
A 30-pack of Nutty Bars?
Steph
You remember that??
Bobby
You loved those things.
Bobby
Every time we had a bag in the house…
Bobby
They’d be gone when you came over.
Steph
Well, no, not Nutty Bars.
Steph
I actually need tampons.
Bobby
You really are having a tough week.
Bobby
What kind do you need?
This time, my eyebrows fly up my forehead.
Steph
Well aren’t you just full of surprises today.
Steph
I never knew you knew so much about tampons.
His face becomes oddly serious.
Bobby
I do have some experience with women, Stephanie.
Bobby
I’m not the same guy you remember.
I’m left slack-jawed, staring at my phone after Bobby hangs up.
Bobby has an adorably proud grin on his face when he FaceTimes me back.
Bobby
And, I got you this.
He holds up a Nutty Bar and wiggles it in the air.
Steph
You didn’t have to do that!
Bobby
And you have your period.
Bobby
If that doesn’t call for a Nutty Bar…
Bobby
I don’t know what does.
Bobby
So, what else can I do for you?
Steph
Are you sure you have time to help me?
Bobby
And I WANT to help you.
Bobby
Now come on, where to next?
Steph
I’m supposed to pick up my new headshots by three.
He leans forward with interest.
Bobby
You’re still acting?
Steph
It’s mostly been local theater, but yeah.
I feel myself straighten in my chair as a smile tugs on my lips.
Steph
I do have a small role in a movie coming up.
Bobby
You were always so talented.
Steph
I seem to remember you telling me I couldn’t act my way out of a paper bag.
He has the nerve to look sheepish.
Bobby
I said a lot of things I didn’t mean back then.
Bobby
Just to get a rise out of you, remember?
Bobby
I was immature and…
He trails off and looks away from the phone.
Bobby
Call you after I pick up the headshots.
When I pick up the phone, I see Bobby staring at my photos.
Bobby
These are gorgeous.
He gestures toward me and my chicken pox.
Bobby
So you don’t normally look like this?
Steph
Ahhh, there’s the snarky Bobby I used to know.
Steph
I knew he was hiding in there somewhere.
Steph
But thank you for the compliment.
Steph
I mean, if that was supposed to be a compliment…
Steph
I never know with you.
He goes back to staring at the headshots.
Bobby
Yeah, it’s definitely a compliment.
His voice is a low and intense murmur.
I feel a flutter in my tummy.
Did I just get butterflies over Little Bobby Conners?!
God, I must seriously be ill.
Steph
Well, thanks for picking those up.
Steph
If you really want to help me…
Steph
Could you go to the dry-cleaners?
Bobby whistles through his teeth.
He’s staring at the bag he picked up from the dry-cleaners.
Bobby
Well, this little red number is barely even a dress…
Bobby
And I bet it looks amazing on you.
He looks at me with an expression I can’t decipher.
Bobby
Big date coming up?
The flutters start again.
Steph
But a girl can never be too prepared.
Bobby
Soooo, no boyfriend?
I narrow my eyes playfully.
Mostly to mask my nerves.
Steph
Did you leave a trail of broken hearts in Australia?
Bobby
Dated here and there.
Bobby
But nothing serious.
Steph
Well anyway, that’s it for today.
Steph
I really appreciate everything.
Steph
Who knew Little Bobby Conners could be such a gentleman?
It seems like he’s going to say something…
Bobby
I have one more stop to make.
By the time my phone rings again, I’m so confused by how I feel.
The background behind him looks weirdly familiar.
Steph
Wait, are you outside my house?
Bobby
Listen, you don’t have to let me in…
Bobby
But I got you these.
He holds up a huge bouquet of roses.
Steph
That’s really sweet of you.
He can’t seem to meet my eyes.
Steph
…Is everything okay?
He groans and shakes his head.
Bobby
You called me Little Bobby Conners.
Bobby
The first time you said it, it was okay…
Bobby
Well, it wasn’t but…
Bobby
You hadn’t seen me in a while.
Bobby
But the second time…
Bobby
It really bothered me.
I don’t know what to say.
I’ve always called him that.
He never had a problem with it before.
Steph
I didn’t mean anything by it.
Steph
Honestly. I didn’t even realize I called you that.
Bobby
I *want* you to realize that you called me that.
Bobby
Because I wish it felt wrong to you when you said it.
Bobby sighs, raking a hand through his hair.
Bobby
All day, I’ve been trying to prove to you that I’m not Little Bobby Conners anymore.
Bobby
And I’m not the same person.
The flutters in my stomach turn into a hurricane.
Steph
I know you’ve grown up.
Steph
Trust me, I can tell.
He smiles and meets my eyes.
He looks nervous but determined at the same time.
Bobby
I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw you calling this morning.
Bobby
I’ve had a thing for you forever.
Bobby
When I was younger, I didn’t know how to handle it.
Bobby
Did whatever I could to get you to notice me.
Bobby
And I figured it was time to try a different tactic.
I stare at him, dumbfounded.
I must look as speechless as I feel.
Bobby
I’m hoping it worked.
Bobby
Because I’ve been thinking about you for a really long time.
Bobby
You see, I had two childhood dreams growing up.
Bobby
I already told you about one.
Bobby
To become a video game developer.
Bobby
But the other dream?
My entire body fills with butterflies.
A multitude of thoughts rush through my head.
The things he remembered about me.
No, he definitely isn’t Little Bobby Conners anymore.
Bobby
Sorry to drop this on you when you’re sick.
Bobby
I just…wanted to tell you over the phone first.
Bobby
Just in case you want to run screaming in the opposite direction.
He deserves it after being so honest with me.
Steph
You have nothing to be sorry for.
I pause, allowing the moment to sink in.
Allowing myself to acknowledge the flutters for what they are.
Steph
The truth is you just made me feel really good.
Steph
Running in the opposite direction is the last thing I’d want to do.
Steph
So, when I’m feeling better…
Steph
Maybe you, me and that red dress can go out sometime.
Steph
See where things go.
His eyes light up like a kid on Christmas.
Steph
But in the meantime…
Steph
Get that hot bod up here with my Nutty Bar!
