My phone is burning through my pocket, trying to keep Miriam out of sight. But she’s still on my mind.
“Am I your one phone call?”
“No.”
The line goes dead.
“No he didn’t,” I whisper-shout. Kendrick is knocked out in his bed. Shins is in mine, hugging his pillow.
I brought my sad ass back here after dinner, which ended in a hug and Kenya’s disappointment. I’m not the kind of man to fuck while thinking about someone else. It’s not fair to the woman I’m with, and it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t have the one I want.
I call again.
“You better be dying,” Julian yawns.
“So much for our friendship. I doubt Matt Damon talks to Ben Affleck this way,” I protest.
“He would if he called past midnight.”
“Julie, who is that?”
“Antonio being an idiot,” he tells Ella.
“Hey!” My tone hardens.
“Why are you whispering?”
“Because I’m trying to be respectful,” I say. “Kendrick and Shins are asleep.”
“Yet you called my phone to wake me up.”
“I’m in a bad place and need advice.”
“Put it on speaker,” Ella says.
There’s a muffled conversation. Julian lets out an exaggerated sigh.
“What? It better not be some bullshit, like someone’s handcuffed to your bed again.”
Ella gasps. “That happened?”
“Afraid so,” I admit. “She put herself in a headstand and refused to leave.”
“Oop!” Ella giggles.
“Get to the point, Antonio.”
“Geez, so testy.” I take a deep breath. “When did you know it was the right time to pursue Ella?”
“Aww,” Ella coos. “Is this about Miriam?”
“Yeah.” I grip the back of my neck.
“I believe he asked me the question, while you’re climbing over me to get to the phone,” Julian grumbles.
“Then answer,” she challenges.
“It caught me off guard how quickly I cared about her. Her well-being, and the kids,” Julian confesses. “I didn’t think I was in a place where I was ready to settle down. Even in London, she had my heart. It got harder to stay away and deny what I felt.There was peace in pursuing her. Our timing wasn’t perfect, but it felt right.”
