"Is that my nickname?"

45 minutes later, I was home in my cozy bed after a relaxing bath. The warmth of the sheets surrounded me as I sank into the plush mattress.

The room was quiet, as my mom wasn't back yet. She had told me she was going to have dinner with someone, but I was too comfortable to be curious.

Feeling a bit peckish, I got out of bed and went to the kitchen. I opened the cupboard and grabbed a pack of chips. The salty aroma wafted up to my nose as I tore open the bag. I heard the satisfying crunch of the chips as I took a big bite.

I dialed Mia's number and pressed the phone to my ear, waiting for her to pick up.

"Hey handsome." She answered, her voice sounding cheerful.

"Hey beautiful." I replied, a smile spreading across my face. "How're you doing?"

"I'm okay. Just finished dinner with Kira and Ollie. Did you get anything to eat?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm eating a bag of chips." I replied, crunching on another chip.

"Oh... I'm sorry Ray, I should have invited you in for dinner." Mia said, a hint of regret in her voice.

"Nah, Mia. It's fine." I reassured her.

"Sure?" She asked again, sounding a bit doubtful.

"Sure." I repeated, taking another bite of chips.

"Say something funny." She suddenly changed the topic, her voice light and playful.

"Ummmmm....like?" I asked, caught off guard.

"I don't know." She laughed slightly. "Just say something funny."

"Okay. Something funny." I replied, thinking for a moment.

"Yeah.... something funny." She repeated, her laughter ringing in my ear.

"I already said it." I said, a smile in my voice.

"When did you?" She asked, sounding confused.

"Just now. A few seconds ago." I explained.

"How?" She asked, still sounding bewildered.

"You said I should say 'something funny', right?" I asked.

"Yes?" She replied, sounding uncertain.

"Something funny. See? I said it again. Something funny." I repeated, trying not to laugh.

"Oh Ray....what's the size of that brain of yours?" She exclaimed, trying very hard not to burst out laughing.

"You've got to admit that was funny." I said, chuckling.

"It wasn't. Rather it was confusing. But maybe a little bit." She replied, still trying to contain her laughter.

We both burst out laughing, our laughter echoing through the room.

"See?" I said, when our laughter subsided. "So what you doing?"

"Nothing much. Just lying in bed in my nighties, talking to a guy on the phone. You?" She replied, her voice now soft and relaxed.

"Well, I'm in bed, with a bag of chips in hand, talking to a damsel on the phone." I replied, mimicking her previous answer.

"Really?" She asked, sounding intrigued.

"Really." I replied, grinning to myself.

"You are mimicking me...just twisting some of the words." She pointed out.

"Why would I?" I asked, playing along.

We both let out loud, boisterous laughs that echoed through the room, filling the space with joy and happiness.

"Mia...." I called her name softly, my voice a mix of playfulness and curiosity.

"Yes?" She replied, warmly. I could imagine the smile playing on her face.

"Tell me a secret..." I said, adjusting myself to a more comfortable position in bed.

"Hmmm..." She replied, tapping the back of her phone with a finger as she thought of what to say. I could hear the thumping from my end. "You were the first guy I kissed in about a year plus now."

This revelation caught me off guard and I felt a small twinge in my heart. I expected her to have a boyfriend or just broke up with one, but the fact that she chose me made me feel special.

"Really?" I asked, surprise evident in my voice.

"Yeah... surprised?" She said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"Yeah....kind of." I said, a smile spreading across my face. "That's great...." I added, feeling my heart swell with happiness.

"So that makes me special." I said, trying to mask the excitement in my voice.

"Hmmm.....says who?" She teased, with a little mischief in her voice.

"Says your lips that chose mine after a year." I replied, playfully waggling my eyebrows.

She chuckled and then scoffed.

"Arrogant little brain." She called me, shaking her head playfully.

I couldn't help but laugh at her response. I loved the playful banter between us.

"Umm.....Mia?" I asked, trying to reignite the conversation.

"Yes Ray?" She replied, reminding me I have her full attention.

"I've been thinking of a cute nickname for you." I said, a smile playing at the corners of my mouth.

"Oh really? How about I return the favor?" She said, a challenge in her voice.

"Okay. Let's do it this way. We both sleep over this and tomorrow, we can hangout and tell each other our new nicknames." I suggested, excitement bubbling within me.

"Sounds like a plan." She agreed, a smile spreading across my face.

"Alright then. I'll leave you to your thoughts. Goodnight prettiful." I said, using a nickname I had just thought up for her.

"Goodnight, handsome." She replied, using a nickname of her own.

"Is that my nickname?" I asked, a grin spreading across my face.

"Nah.... I was just.....(pause).... just go and sleep." She said, stifling a yawn.

I bid her goodnight and hung up the call, feeling content and happy after our playful conversation.

As I hung up the phone with a smile on my face, I felt a warm, fuzzy feeling in my chest. Mia had a unique way of making me feel special, even over the phone.

I took a few bites of my chips, savoring the salty crunch in my mouth, before setting the bag aside on my nightstand. I stretched out in my bed, feeling the soft cotton sheets against my skin and the comfortable embrace of my mattress.

The room was quiet, except for the gentle hum of my ceiling fan, and I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of the day lifting off of me.

The soft glow of my bedside lamp cast a warm, yellow light over the room, and I couldn't help but think of Mia's laugh as we joked with each other on the phone.

I remembered the way her voice had sounded, the light, musical quality of it, and the hint of a smile I could hear in her words. I smiled to myself, feeling lucky to have her in my life.

As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the future. Mia and I had made plans to hang out tomorrow, and I was already looking forward to it.

The thought of spending time with her, of getting to know her better, made me feel excited and nervous all at the same time. I wondered what kind of nickname she would come up with for me, and I couldn't wait to find out.

With those thoughts in my mind, I drifted off into a peaceful sleep, dreaming of the possibilities of tomorrow and the adventures that lay ahead.