The woman looked annoyed, but said, “Sure. Go ahead.”
Maria slid her hand around his waist and held up her cellphone. “Take the piece of paper that’s in my hand on your waist,” she said.
He looked at her. “What?”
“Look at the phone. Claudia’s in the bathroom. I told her I was getting a selfie. I’ve only got a few minutes, but I don’t want to risk her coming out and seeing me hand you anything. So, take the piece of paper that’s in my other hand and smile.”
She took three quick photos while he fumbled for the piece of paper.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Rowan’s number.” She lowered the phone and glanced over her side toward the exit.
“Why?”
She shrugged and shook her head. “I have absolutely no idea. It’s a feeling I have and I always listen to my feelings. Don’t tell her where you got it and don’t make me regret it.”
* * *
Luke staredat the ten-digits he’d typed into his phone. All he had to do was press the green call button.
Shit.
He lowered the phone between his knees and rested his forehead in the palm of his other hand, elbow resting on his knee. What was he doing? It was almost midnight. What would he even say?
Tomorrow.
But if he waited, he knew he’d chicken out again. Better to do it now. Fast—like ripping off a bandage. Or in this case, tearing off the scab and hoping it didn’t open up a vein.
He raised the phone, pressed the green button, and brought it to his ear.
Restless, he stood and paced from one end of the narrow corridor of the bus to the other. Four rings or voice mail and I’ll hang up.
“Hello?”
He squeezed his eyes closed. It was the first time he’d heard her voice in years. There’d been a time when he hadn’t gone more than half a day without talking to her.
“Hello?” Her voice was stronger the second time.
“Rowan?” His voice broke in the middle and he tried again. “Rowan.”
The few seconds of silence stretched out into an eternity. “Luke?”
“Yeah. Hey.” Heat flushed his body and sweat beaded along his hairline. He wiped the palm of his free hand on his jeans and swallowed back the emotion clogging his throat.
“How did you get this number?” she asked quietly.
He heard rustling as if she were getting out of bed. “My, uh, assistant tracked it down for me. How are you?” he asked in a rush.
“Luke…why are you calling?”
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately,” he said. “I miss you, Rowan. You were the only person in my life I ever trusted completely outside my family. I—miss you.”
“Luke—”
“Can I see you? I’m still in Denver. I’ll come to wherever you are. Or I’ll meet you somewhere. I just—I want to see you.”
“I’m engaged, Luke.”
