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I could’ve ignored it. Probably should have.

Blair: Thank you.

Caleb: You earned it.

Caleb: Is it inappropriate if I say I told you that place was going to get you attention?

I locked my phone without responding. He texted me that next Monday with a question about a vendor. Wednesday, he reached out about a referral. He had a friend opening a restaurant and wanted to know if I was accepting new commercial clients.

Friday, he sent a photo of a chair inside his lounge.

Caleb: Tell me this doesn’t look stupid.

Blair: It looks stupid.

Caleb: Thank you. Knew I could trust you.

The next week, he didn’t text at all. So when his name appeared the following Thursday, I waited twenty minutes before opening it.

Caleb: Need a professional opinion.

I rolled my eyes.

Blair: If this is another ugly chair, I’m billing you.

A photo came through of paint samples. Four shades of dark green lay across a table.

Caleb: Which one?

I zoomed in.

Blair: Second from left.

Caleb: Why?

Blair: First is too blue. Third will look black at night. Fourth looks like a dentist office.

Three dots appeared.

Caleb: Thank you so much!

The typing bubble appeared again.

Caleb: I like talking to you.

My thumb stopped. I could’ve redirected the conversation. I could’ve ignored it or reminded him of the boundary. Instead, I typed.

Blair: I LIKED talking to you too.

I stared at the message before sending it. Then I sent it anyway.

Caleb: Past tense?

Blair: Yes!

Caleb: What about today?

I smiled.