“I love it,” she says. “What’s more, I love that you love it.” She wipes away her tears, making me cry.
“Also, I went for an interview for a job with a foundation that helps relocate victims in abusive relationships.”
Her eyes go big. “I think that you are going to help a lot of people, Lexi.” She sniffles. “I feel like if there was ever a job made for someone, that job was made for you.”
“I think so too,” I agree with her. “Look at all these changes.” I giggle. “I thought I would be overwhelmed and it would weigh down on me. Making all the choices on my own and not being steered in the direction that I should go.” I wait for my chest to feel the tightness, but it’s not there. “Now, please get me this house.”
“I’m on it,” she says and then smiles. “I’ll call you back.”
“I look forward to it,” I tell her and she disconnects the phone and I pull up his number.
I press the phone button and listen to it ring once, twice, three times when his voice now fills my ear. “You’ve reached Kirby.” I smile when I hear his name. “Leave me your name and number and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” I wait for the beep before I talk.
“Hey, Kirby, it’s Lexi,” I start to say and then hear I have another call coming in, and when I look down, I see it’s him calling me back. “You’re on the other line.” I laugh. “Bye,” I say, pressing the switch-call button. “Hello.”
“Lexi,” he says and it sounds like he just woke up.
“Are you sleeping?” I look at my watch and see it’s three in the afternoon.
“Yeah, we have a game tonight before we leave, so there is always the afternoon nap,” he explains and I sit back on the outside chair. “Where are you? It sounds like you are in a tunnel.”
“I’m sitting on my hopefully soon-to-be balcony,” I tell him, “but I was calling for something else.”
“What’s up?” he asks as I hear the covers rustle from his side of the phone and I wonder if he sleeps with boxers or naked. The thought of Kirby naked makes the back of my neck heat up and my mouth water.
“I’ve decided to take the job,” I start, “with one condition.” I bite my lip, wondering how he’ll take this condition. “We ride a roller coaster together.”
He huffs out, “Fuck no.” I can see him shaking his head side to side.
“Come on, Kirby,” I say teasingly, “I dare you.”
twenty
Kirby
When the phone rang from my bedside table, I knew it was one of four people, and four people only: Kylie, Coach, Jaxon, or Lexi. They are the only ones on my favorites list, so even when I put it on do not disturb, they can get through to me.
I jumped up when I heard the vibration, and then I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw her name. I turn over in my bed, surprised. “What’s up?” I ask her when I hear her backpedaling and then her voice changes, and I can almost hear the smile in her voice and the shyness.
“I’ve decided to take the job,” she says and I sit up straight in bed, “with one condition.” Whatever it is, it’s going to be yes, but I don’t tell her that. My heart picks up speed, thinking about what the condition will be and secretly hoping it ends up with us naked and in bed together. “We ride a roller coaster together.”
I huff out and collapse back onto my bed. “Fuck no.” I shake my head side to side.
“Come on, Kirby,” she says teasingly, “I dare you.” I will give this woman whatever she wants, whenever she wants it. Even going out of my own fucking comfort zone to make her happy.
I close my eyes and all I can see is her face smiling from ear to ear, and my mouth is quicker than my brain. “Fine,” I concede, “but I want it in writing.”
She laughs and it shoots straight to my dick. “Fine, we will get it in writing.”
“When do you want to do this?” I ask her, trying to tell myself it’s going to be two minutes of torture, but in the end it’ll be worth it.
“How about Saturday?” she asks. “I know you guys come back on Friday and there is no game on Saturday.”
“Fine,” I agree, reaching out my empty hand to the side, wishing she was here. “I will make plans for Saturday.”
“It’s a date,” she states and I sit up in bed, wondering if she thinks it’s a date-date, like I get to hold her hand and at the end of the night I get to kiss her, or it’s an I’ll meet you there and I’m not inviting you in after.
“It’s a date,” I repeat with the biggest smile on my face. “Now that we got that out of the way, should we discuss work?”
