"Hello?" I stop twisting the phone cord with tense fingers when I hear him answer.
"Hey."
"You're late," he says, with a touch of Legolas in his voice.
"What, reciting your dialogue?" I laugh, grabbing a handful of raisins and beginning to munch on them.
"Well, you were supposed to call me twenty minutes ago. And maybe this makes me sound like an obsessed puppy dog, but I've been waiting by the phone and worrying."
"I'm sorry, love. Henry was on the phone with a friend, and if I kicked him off to call you, I'd never hear the end his teasing. As it is he's enjoying laughing at what he calls my 'moony' look way too much."
"You get moony over me?" Orli asks, and I can see the smirk even from several thousand miles away. "That's so sweet."
"Are you mocking me?" I ask with as much righteous indignation as I can muster.
"Never. So did you book your flight?"
"Yeah. I get into Heathrow at 10 p.m. on Friday night, so I'll be there for your entire birthday. I don't go back until Monday afternoon."
"Christ, I can't wait."
"Me neither. Every time I go to paint, I always get this annoying urge to paint a grin and a mohawk."
"Shut up, old man. The mohawk is long gone."
"What a relief."
"I though you liked it," he pouts.
"It wore out its welcome after a while. I like the little buzz cut you've got now."
"Well, I need to keep it for this movie. I can't believe I'm going to Morocco to film after a year in New Zealand. It's just unbelievable, Vig. I mean, Ridley Scott cast *me* to be in one of his movies."
"Don't be so shocked, Orli. You're a terrific actor."
"Whatever. Okay, change of subject. How's Henry?"
I sigh, wishing he would just believe me when I compliment his skills. He gets these roles because he's a wonderful actor, not because he has cheekbones to die for. Although that doesn't hurt. "Henry's good. He has a nice repertoire of dirty jokes that he likes to try and shock me with."
"Any good ones?"
"You don't want to know." Orli laughs, and I smile broadly. "I miss you so much."
"Yeah, I know the feeling," he sighs. Only six days until I see you, though, and then I can do whatever I want to you. Don't plan on doing any sightseeing outside of the bedroom"
"Are you supplying the viagra, or should I bring my own?"
"Vig, you have more energy than the Road Runner on speed once you're in bed. I don't think stamina has ever been a problem."
"Hey, if you've ever seen yourself naked you'll understand why."
"Aw, too much information!" I jump as I see Henry entering the living room. "My virgin ears!"
"Umm . . . sorry," I mumble. Orli is laughing hysterically, obviously having heard Henry's cry of mortification, and my face is bright red. "Aren't you supposed to be doing homework?" I ask my son, trying to salvage some of my nonexistent dignity.
"I need my geometry textbook," he informs me, grabbing it from the coffee table. "Tell the elf hi, and tell him to keep his clothes on. That goes for you, too."
"Henry says 'hi' and tells you to keep your clothes on," I repeat dutifully as I watch my son retreat down the hallway.
Orli is still laughing. "I'll try. At least what he overheard was fairly innocent. Not like last night's conversation."
I blush, remembering our most recent round of phone sex. "Yeah, that wasn't quite so innocent. I have to send you the cleaning bill for my sheets."
"I could just buy you new ones when you come to visit."
"With your sense of style, or lack thereof? I don't think so."
"This coming from a man who wears the same paint-splattered clothes day after day?"
"At least my clothes don't have ruffles and could make a person blind."
"Atti likes my taste in clothes," Orli says, pretending to sound wounded.
"Atti wears mesh tank tops," I remind him. He laughs and then yawns. "Am I so boring I'm putting you to sleep?" I laugh.
"It's late in London, Vig. Did you forget about the time difference? And I didn't exactly sleep well last night after our rather stimulating conversation. You do realize that your voice is a bloody aphrodisiac, don't you?"
"So I've been told."
"Christ, just talking to you has me hard half of the time. You have no idea how many times I've wanked to the Recent Forgeries CD."
"The one that Billy and Dom gave you for your birthday?" I ask, fighting back laughter.
"Yeah. I should really thank the little buggers, but they'd never let me live it down if they knew I *actually* get off to you reading poetry."
"Well, I've got those pictures we took to keep me company. You're so incredibly beautiful, love. I can't wait to actually see you."
"I can't wait to actually hear you," he says, sounding incredibly eager.
"To touch you."
"To taste you." He sighs. "Friday is the earliest you can come to London?"
"Yeah. I wish it could be sooner, but Exene is out of town, and I can't make Henry stay at a friend's for a whole week."
"No, I understand."
"I love you, Orli. I can't ever tell you that enough."
"Well, I'll never get tired of hearing you say it," he says, and I can tell he's smiling again. "I love you, too."
"Get some sleep, love."
"Okay. Just six more days."
"Six more days," I confirm. "And then you won't be alone."
"Miss you, Vig. Give Henry a hug for me."
"Of course."
"Good night."
"Sleep well, Orlando."
I hear the click of a phone and smile. Leaving my comfortable position on the couch, I go down the hallway and knock on Henry's door. "Yo!" he calls, my signal to enter.
"How's geometry coming along?"
Henry makes a face and a gagging sound. "Did you tell Orli I said hi?"
"Sure did. This is his response." I give my son a hug, and he grins. "Sorry about, um, what you overheard."
"It didn't really bug me," he laughs. "I mean, jeez, I know you guys have sex, Dad."
My face is probably a very amusing shade of red right now. "Right. Well, er, just thanks for not teasing me too badly."
"No problem."
I give him another hug and leave him to do his homework.
Walking to my studio, I pick up a picture of Orli grinning madly.
Only six more days until I can see that grin in person. I can't wait.
