“You know what really helped to motivate me in the last period?” I ask.
“What?”
“Your text message. I rarely pick up my phone during intermission, but for some reason, I did tonight. I really needed your text. Thank you.”
“I thought I was bothering you by texting you during the game,” Arush says, his voice sounding sheepish.
“Not at all. As long as you understand I won’t answer during the game and you won’t be upset about it.”
“Oh no. I knew you weren’t going to see it. I guess I just wanted you to know I was cheering for you.”
I close my eyes, a smile lingering on my lips. Warmth spreads through me. “Thanks. I love that.” A quiet moment passes. “You can call me when I’m away, you know. You don’t ever have to wait for me to call you.”
“I never know when you’re busy.”
“If I’m busy, I won’t answer, and I’ll call you back when I can.”
“Oh. I guess I didn’t know if you’d want me to.”
“I love to hear your voice,” I confide. “I miss you when I’m away.”
Arush sighs. “I miss you, too.”
“Are you in bed?” I ask.
“Yeah. I’m in your bed. Is that still okay?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Are you in bed too?”
“Yes, and it’s not anywhere near as comfortable as mine.”
He laughs quietly. “This is a really comfortable bed,” he agrees. “It needs some color, but it’s comfortable.”
“Color?” I ask, my eyebrows knitting together. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing, really. We just come from two very different cultures. In India, our homes are bright with patterns and colors and warmth. It seems Americans like the cool, neutral, empty colors.”
“Empty colors,” I repeat, laughing.
“Yeah. Your walls are gray,” he says. “That’s an empty color. It’s like gray skies and dull feelings.”
“Wow,” I say, still chuckling.
“I don’t hate it,” Arush says. “I’m mostly just teasing. Teasing with the truth but still only teasing. I like your condo.”
“If you want to bring some India in, you can do that.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. Definitely.”
Arush hums. “I think I might if you really don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind. Have fun. I lease the furniture so don’t dye it or anything drastic.”
“Why do you lease it?”
