Page 228 of Josephine and Clay

Josie: Your ego is recovering nicely.

Clay: Wait until you see me limping around town tomorrow.

Josie: That's not reassuring.

Clay: You can supervise me.

Josie: That sounds exhausting.

Clay: You still coming over after work?

My thumb pauses above the screen.

The question knots my stomach harder than it should.

A week ago, I wasn't sure he'd answer a phone call.

Now he's asking if I'll be there after work as though we've already figured out what comes next.

A reluctant smile pulls at my mouth.

I type back before I can overthink it again.

Josie: Yes.

The response appears quickly.

Clay: Good.

I stare at that single word longer than I should.

Then I tuck my phone away and head back to work.

The knot that's been riding beneath my ribs all day finally eases.

Maybe tomorrow will be complicated. Maybe next month will be terrifying. Maybe none of this comes with guarantees.

But when my phone buzzes again a minute later, I already know it's him.

And for now, that's enough.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Clay

AUGUST 15TH

I wake up reaching for her.

My hand finds cool sheets instead.

I squint at the ceiling, caught between sleep and reality as the room slowly comes into focus. Then I roll onto my side and see the empty space beside me.

The disappointment lands harder than I expect. I knew she wouldn't spend the morning tucked beneath my arm, and she didn't owe me that anyway.

It's barely six o'clock.

Josie's a veterinarian. She's probably already halfway through saving some cow, horse, goat, or other creature determined to make her life difficult.