Page 23 of Already Callin’ You Mine

One that will mean we get to move on from this topic.

The only other one I’ve got.

“Presley threw out the idea of stranger danger, but⁠—”

Auggie claps, cutting me off, the loud sound taking me by surprise. I swallow hard, trying to find the rest of my sentence, so thrown off by his enthusiastic response.

“…I don’t know that it has any meat to it.”

“It’s perfect. Talk about an evergreen topic.” Auggie wryly chuckles. “Every parent deals with this, and things are always changing. Some of the basics are the same, but new parents these days have different worries than your mama and I did.”

“Doesn’t mean we can make a thing about it,” I mutter.

“You said it yourself,” Anton replies. “Presley was lucky it was you and not some creeper who found her kiddo this past weekend. There’s your first episode.”

Shut it, Anton. Focus on your fruit…

“I just⁠—”

“There’s no debate here, Jace,” Auggie interrupts. “This is your topic. It checks all the boxes.”

“You heard the man,” Gus says. “So let Presley know it’s a go.”

“In fact, text her right now,” Hux teases.

I flip him the bird, not giving a single damn that we’re in a meeting and are supposed to be “professional.” That comment came straight from my brother, not my coworker, and I will treat him as such. The rest of the group snickers, enjoying the interaction.

“Don’t have her number,” I point out, feeling rather proud of myself. Perfect excuse.

“Oh, that’s easy,” Willa scoffs.

Reaching across the table, she grabs my phone before I have a chance to react. I scramble, trying to get it back from her, but Hux throws out one of his big lumberjack arms, pushing me back into my seat.

Willa’s fingers fly across the screen, doing double time between her phone and mine, importing contact info I was more than happy not to have.

“There!” Willa smiles, the knowing grin of a little sister who is up to no good. “And I already sent her a text bringing her up to speed.”

“You did what?”

I grab my phone back, Willa’s devious smile growing even more, my eyes flicking down to the screen.

Hi Presley, it’s Jace. I’ve decided that you were right, stranger danger is a fantastic idea. Let me know when we can get started!

“A smiley face? And an exclamation point?” I glare at Willa. “I’m not one of your girl gang. I don’t send smiley faces.”

“I noticed. Your lack of recent emojis is a little depressing,” she retorts.

Little sisters…

My phone buzzes and suddenly the whole room is captivated. All eyes are on me, the weight of them heavier than a ton of bricks.

Presley

I’m happy to hear that you have come to your senses and realize the error of your ways. I will mock up a plan and then we can go over that.

Come to my senses? Error of my ways? Oh, this woman’s got cheek.

“What’d she say?” Ewan asks. “She like the smiley face?”

Uggggh…

“It’s Owen,” I lie, quickly tapping back a reply.

In order to see an error in my ways, there would have to be an error.

“She send back a heart?” Milo quips. “Or better yet, a kissy face?”

I ignore him, too focused on the almost immediate response to my message. The one that is making my blood boil.

Presley

I’m not the one who sent a smiley face. If that’s not the sign of a man admitting fault, I don’t know what is.

I slam my phone face down on the table. I’m not going to dignify this with a response.

This project can’t end soon enough.