He picked it up immediately when he saw that it was Lexie's caller ID.
He was smiling even before he spoke. "Hey. What's up?"
"I thought it would be faster to talk than to text."
His grin stretched. "That, and I like the sound of your voice."
There was a pause on the other end of the call.
"Hope that wasn't too... something."
He rolled his eyes at himself.
'Real smooth, man. Real smooth.'
"No, it wasn't 'too' something. It was nice. I like your voice, too." She laughed softly. "I'm at the school right now and the place I'm thinking of is in town around the Station House where you'll be working. Well, actually, it's closer to CCFD Headquarters! Oh, that reminds me-"
"I've got an idea-"
Their words came out almost at the same time and then they laughed at it.
"What's your idea, Kaleo?"
He shouldn't have that big of a reaction when she said his name, but he did.
His heart pounded against his ribs and the fact that she'd pronounced his name the right way made it even better.
"You mentioned Center City Fire Department headquarters."
"Mmhmm..."
"I was thinking I should go down there and see if they have some kind of a... a... what's it called?"
"Bulletin Board?"
He nodded. "Yes. That. Thanks." He exhaled, smiling from ear to ear. "Something where people post if they have room for a roommate."
"Yeah."
He tried to imagine her expression.
He'd basically memorized the look of her face the first time he saw her and after that he liked how easily it was to bring up her image in his head.
He liked it a lot.
"I'm near that area now. Where's the ice cream place?"
A message pinged on his phone.
"I just sent you a pin on a map app. How about we meet there?"
He nodded and then remembered that they weren't face to face. "Sounds great. If you get there before me, grab a table."
"Gotcha!" Her voice was warm, excited. He felt the same way. "Same if you beat me there. At this time of time the buses might get a little slow."
"I like riding TheBus back in Hawaii. When I find a place to live, I'll probably get a bus pass and use that."
He heard a chuckle through the phone.
