“Literally anything. ‘Thanks.’ ‘You too.’ ‘Please rail me against your tour bus’.”
“BRYNN.”
“What? I’m just offering suggestions!”
I held the phone, staring at Cole’s texts. My thumbs hovered over the keyboard.
Nothing came out.
“That’s it.” Eli plucked the phone from my hand.
“What are you doing?”
“Saving you from yourself.” He tapped the screen.
“Eli, don’t you dare.”
The phone rang. Once. Twice.
“Hello?” Cole’s voice came through the speaker.
My stomach dropped. “ELI!”
Eli shoved the phone at me, grinning like the demon he was.
I pressed it to my ear. “Cole. Hi. I’m so sorry. My friends made me call. I didn’t…”
“I’m glad they did.” His voice was warm, amused. “Was starting to think you’d ghosted me already.”
“No. I just. I’m not good at this. The texting thing. I was staring at my phone trying to figure out what to say and…”
“Did you see my texts?”
“Yeah. I saw them. Thank you. For saying I looked beautiful. That was. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I meant it.”
Heat crawled up my neck.
“So,” Brynn yelled from somewhere behind me, “are you going to rail her against your tour bus or what?”
“BRYNN!” I spun around. “I swear to God.”
Cole’s laugh filled my ear. Rich. Genuine. “Is that Brynn?”
“Yes. She’s insane. Ignore her.”
“Tell Brynn I appreciate the enthusiasm,” he said, still laughing. “But I prefer to take things slow. At least for the first date.”
Eli grabbed my shoulder. “What did he say?”
“Nothing!” I said.
“You’re blushing,” Jess observed.
“I’m not,” I insisted.
“You are,” Cole argued. “I can hear it in your voice.”
