I trudged upstairs and changed as fast as I could to get into bed, setting my phone on the nightstand as I called Julie.
“Hey, big shot,” she said as her face filled my screen. I cringed at her raspy whisper.
“Did I wake you? I’m sorry, darlin’. I had a drink with Will after a very long fucking day of back-to-back meetings, and I didn’t realize the time.”
I slid my glasses on to get a better look at her. She was lying on her side, hugging the pillow with a sleepy grin pulling at her mouth. From the angle, it looked like she’d propped her phone on my side of the bed. The thought made my smile grow wider.
“It’s not that late. It’s just been a long day for me too. My team got a little screwed, so we have to take on more work than we thought.” She turned her head to yawn into the pillow. “I got up early and have been at it all day too. I finally had enough and climbed into bed.”
“What happened? Everything okay?”
“Yeah, long story. And not one I want to waste time on when I finally get to talk to you. I’d ask how it was to be back, but if you had meetings all day, I guess it sucked.”
“It did, but it was fine. Word is out that I’m a married man.”
“Oh?” Julie propped her elbow on the pillow and rested her chin against her palm. “Sorry if that cuts into your social life while you’re down there.”
“Yeah, it’s a hardship,” I teased. “My boss knew when I saw him in New York. I guess once stuff like that is out, it gets around fast.” I sat up against the headboard to get a better look at the screen. “I have no issues with everyone knowing I’m taken as fuck.”
“Taken as fuck?” She arched an eyebrow. “That is actually kind of romantic—” My stomach dropped when a sudden coughing fit cut her off.
“Are you feeling okay, babe?”
“I’m fine,” she said as she shifted on the bed. “Allergy drip. It’s probably worse because I’m so damn exhausted.” She leaned in and pursed her lips at the screen. “I’m fine, babe. I see the crease in your forehead. Tell me about the rest of your day.”
“I ran into Shayla tonight.”
“You did?” The smile faded from her lips as she squinted at the screen.
“She spotted me leaving the bar and came up to say hello. And congratulations since she’s friends with one of our HR managers and heard I was married. She assumed it was to you.”
“Did she now?”
“Yes. And you are so fucking hot when you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous at all that I’ve been in bed since eight p.m. while you were having drinks at what is probably a swanky bar in Charlotte with your ex-wife.” She tried to scowl, but I spied her mouth twitch.
“No drink. Just a short but actually good conversation. We both ended up where we’re supposed to be. I wish her the same happiness as I finally have.”
A slow grin split her cheeks. “When you say things like that, I can see why you’re taken as fuck.”
“You know it, baby.” I pointed at the screen. “Even though you swiped the shirt I sleep in. That explains why I couldn’t find it when I was packing.”
“I swiped it from the laundry last week to wear it while you were gone.” She glanced down at the NY in white block letters. “You just didn’t notice because you usually sleep shirtless.”
I cracked up when she waggled her eyebrows.
“I’ve had that shirt since freshman year at Fordham. It somehow managed to stretch with me all these years.”
“I remember. Dean told me to buy it for you to wear because he wasn’t letting you sit with us at the Yankees game if you wore a Red Sox shirt. He knew if I bought a Yankees shirt for you, you’d actually wear it.”
“Makes sense. But you both knew I never really cared about baseball either way. My dad just happened to be a Boston fan.”
“Which makes me sad, but thank God we got you away from that.” She dipped her nose under the collar and shut her eyes as she inhaled. “Smells like you. I’m surprised you kept it for so long if you didn’t care.”
“I kept it because of the girl who gave it to me. The same way I kept everything else from you.”
She darted her eyes away from the screen, a bashful smile pulling at her mouth. Five more nights now seemed like years.
