Page 14 of Playing By Ear

“Sorry,” he told Perry through gritted teeth as he pulled out his phone. First he checked the screen:

Supergrrrl

I know you’re not playing football this time of night. Phone me NOW

“Do you need to deal with that?” Perry asked.

Jamie scowled. Usually the only way to “deal with” his family was to keep them at arm’s length.

Maybe these messages meant the end of his safe, isolated life with its blissful detachment. Maybe it was time to return.

But did it have to be tonight?

“It’s nothing that can’t wait.” Jamie had already exceeded his limit for self-disclosure. Fortunately, Perry was fascinating enough for the pair of them. “I’m pure curious: Why would anyone want to be a referee? Everyone hates you, and you’ve got to run nonstop for ninety minutes.”

Perry shrugged. “I suppose I like rules.” Then he lifted his eyes to meet Jamie’s. “And I like being in charge.”

Jamie’s neck tingled, and this time the sensation zoomed all the way down his spine. “So you fancy telling other men what to do?”

Perry matched his suggestive tone. “In the appropriate setting.”

“Mmm.” Jamie rubbed his warming cheek. “Shame you can’t see the look on my face just now.”

Perry set down his fork and put his elbows on the table, leaning in. “I could see it if we were closer.”

Jamie mirrored his posture. “How close?”

“Closer than this.”

“What do I look like to you now?”

Perry tilted his head. “From this distance, I can tell you’ve got hair and it’s somewhere between dark blond and pale brown. Colors can be murky for me in dim settings, but I remember you in daylight, so that’s what I see now. Also, your hair might be wavy.”

“A bit,” Jamie said. “And you got the color right. What else?”

Perry squinted at him. “Full beard, a bit darker than your hair, but I think trimmed short. Can’t tell whether you’ve got freckles.”

“Just a few this time of year. What else?”

“Definitely a nose and two eyes,” Perry said, “but not sure which color.”

“My nose is the same shade as the rest of my face.”

“Good.”

“And my eyes are⁠—”

“Shh.” Perry held out a palm and sat back. “No spoilers, please.”

“Oh, you think you’ll find out later for yourself?”

“Definitely.”

“When?”

“When I kiss you.”

Zap. “How do you know I’ll let you kiss me?”