Page 88 of Already Callin’ You Mine

“Sure?” I answer the girls, choking out the word and turning my attention to my phone. I’m sure it’s nothing—just another email notification—but if it saves me not only my own thoughts, but from having to contribute to this conversation, then I’ll take it.

Jace

Hey Mama, dinner tonight? ;)

My heart squeezes, hearing his deep and sultry voice whisper Mama in my ear as my eyes scan over the four little letters. Fuck me…why is that so sexy? Anyone else says it and it’s borderline creepy. But Jace? Ooooof.

Forget a Klondike bar—what would I do to hear him call me that?

Anything. The answer is pretty much anything.

Add that to the reason to distance myself column.

Can’t. O has a Dr. appt this afternoon, then I need to hit the grocery, and then it’s straight home to clean and work

Three dancing dots appear almost instantly, making the butterflies in my tummy come alive. Butterflies in my tummy—goodness, you’d think I was back in high school waiting for him to walk by in hopes he says hi. I am in so deep.

That can wait. Other than Little Man’s Dr. appt

Ha, not quite. I start to type back, trying to think of something cute and witty. I want to be flirty and fun. But no, that would lead him on. I need to bow out. Before anyone gets really hurt. Myself included.

I wish, but it really can’t.

Then Drafts and Dig In tomorrow?

I sigh, willing myself to find the strength to reply the way I need to and not how I want to.

Can’t

You can’t have that much work lol

I do, but that’s beside the point.

No babysitter. Mom and Dad are out of town.

I could find you one ;)

Thanks, but Otis has never stayed with anyone but myself or my parents and…

I get it. So, this weekend?

Tell him no…tell him no…

My fingers itch to reply of course! Or even counter it with asking if he wants to come cook dinner with me instead. Because I bet he would. He’d be down to make a mess in the kitchen, and then make a mess out of me, before we head to the shower to wash it off. Together.

One more thing Cody was never down for. Wait, no, that’s two.

Plus dishes. Jace would take care of the dishes. So, three.

But I hold steady.

Probably not the best idea

The dancing dots appear again, then disappear for a second. The pattern repeats three or four times, Jace clearly trying to carefully word his response.

Jace

Did I do something?