“Agreed.”
Retrieved her phone, she returned the backpack to its spot, closed the door and faced him. “You’re not going to sabotage me. You can have my number. If you still want it. I shouldn’t make assumptions.”
“I do still want it.” He pulled his phone from his hip pocket. “I won’t use it, but I want it.”
“If you’re not going to use it, then why?—”
“Because when you call me, I’ll know who it is. I won’t delete it as junk.”
“But I’m not planning on calling you.”
“Then I guess we won’t be speaking on the phone, because that’s the only way it’ll happen. You’ll have to make the call.”
She studied him. “I hurt you when I wouldn’t exchange numbers.”
“Dinged my pride a little. But you were smart not to five years ago. I would have used it. I would have pushed.”
“And now you won’t call me? Ever?”
“That’s right.”
“Not even if you’re at death’s door?”
He blinked. “Why would I call you? Are you moonlighting as a priest?”
She flushed and turned her attention to her phone. “I don’t know what made me say that.”
“Me, either. Never occurred to me I should have a list of folks to notify when I’m on the way out.”
“It was a dumb comment. Forget it. What’s your number?”
He gave it to her while mulling over her odd request. Wanting to know if he was alive or dead was a low bar for gauging affection. But he’d take it. “I doubt I’ll croak anytime soon, but if that changes, I’ll give you a jingle.”
“Never mind.”
“That’s assuming I have my—” His phone chimed. He’d been expecting the ping of a text, but instead she’d opted for a call. He met her gaze. “Who’s this and why are you calling me?”
That made her laugh. “My bad. I should have texted.”
“Yes, ma’am, that’s a fact. You specifically said you weren’t planning to call me, and twenty seconds later, here you are, talking to me on the phone. What am I supposed to make of that?”
“That I’m not firing on all cylinders. This thing with Fudge has me discombobulated. A text would’ve made more sense.”
“Oh, yeah, blame it on Fudge. By the way, you look cute in that H&H cap. I kept meaning to tell you so.”
Color bloomed in her cheeks. “Thanks. You have my number, so we can hang up now.”
“I hate to. This feels like a moment. Our first phone chat.” And likely their one and only.
“While we’re standing face-to-face. If anybody saw this they’d think we’re a couple of nut jobs.”
“They wouldn’t be wrong.”
“That’s for sure. Okay, we really should say goodbye.”
“I know, but I like hearing your voice in my ear.”
The sparkle of laughter in her eyes became a soft glow he knew all too well. As that glow turned her blue eyes darker, her breathing changed.
