“What are you doing?”
I’d fly back to Merritt Point right now if it meant I could crawl into bed with her and chat.
“I’m out with the team.”
“Oh?”
I clock her anxiety right away in the way her voice jumps three octaves. “Worried?”
“No, why would I be?” she rushes out.
“Good, because I’m sitting at the bar. Very much alone.”Thinking of you.“How was your day?”
She scoffs. “I’m supposed to believe you just scored the winning shot of the game, and you just want to yap about my day?”
“So you watched?”
“It was on. Not the same thing.”
“You’re such a liar.”
“Are you drunk?”
I pick at the bar napkin before I grin at the female bartender and motion for another cherry. “A little.”
“It’s your birthday today.”
The words hang there between us. I should make a joke or something, anything. Instead, I clear my throat and shift on the barstool. “Tell me about your day.”
She does. Her voice fills the space while I settle my tab, wave to Alex and Bosko, and leave early.
I close my eyes and tip my head back against the seat, letting her words wash over me the entire ride, then as I push through my hotel room and collapse onto the bed.
“Going to sleep?” she asks, a yawn nearly taking her out.
“I’m back in my room now. I can FaceTime you.”
“No, I need to head to bed. I’m watching Luca for Peyton tomorrow.”
“Are you going to take out that vibrator again? Pretend it’s me between your legs?”
“Go to bed, Jack,” she says with a small giggle. But I’m not so drunk as to miss the little inhale she made when I asked.
“You’ve done it already, haven’t you?”
“Good night, Murphy.”
“I’m just being an attentive boyfriend.”
“Very generous. You’re cute when you’re drunk. Are you wearing your glasses?”
“If I say yes, will you take out that vibrator and let me listen?”
I miss that breathy sigh of hers.
“We need to keep some mystery to this relationship. Good night. Oh, and?—”
“Yeah?”
