Chase
“You’re alive,” I joke, hearing Noah laugh on the other end of the phone.
“I don’t know about alive, but at least we’re on the same soil. Not gonna lie, the Cinnabon in JFK was a sight for sore eyes.”
“Filth. But welcome back anyway, brother. Never leave me again. I had no one to talk to.”
I’m a big fat liar. Huge. Giant.
He chuckles. “Do not bust my balls for not calling. I’m on my honeymoon.”
I stop at a red light as someone with house music blasting pulls up next to me. So I turn my head and yell, “I’m on the phone. A little consideration.”
Maybe it’s my fault for getting a convertible as a rental. But I needed a pick-me-up since it’ll take a month to restore my baby.
“What did I tell you about yelling at strangers while you drive?”
“These fucking kids nowadays ... and listen, technically, your honeymoon is over. So it’s time to give me attention. What time do you guys land in the a.m.?”
I’m hoping it’s sometime after sunrise, because that’s not the version of our surprise romance Evie was thinking of when she made a plan to spring it on them.
“Well, currently, we’re sitting in a lounge, exhausted and trying not to get too drunk so we don’t fall asleep and miss our flight. But if all goes well, we’ll be home in about six hours. Give or take a tailwind.”
I count on my fingers. It’s eight thirty right now, but he’s East Coast time ...
“Midnight, dummy,” he shoots out, making me laugh.
“God, it’s nice to have the nerd back. I’ve been doing too much heavy lifting as the personality hire of this group.”
I hear him repeat what I said to Goldie, who laughs, and it makes me think of something Evie said earlier, so without thinking, I say, “Listen, my girl ...”
Fuck. Oh, I promised I wouldn’t screw up the surprise.
Noah scoffs. “You have to stop callingmy girlyour girl. She’s my wife, so my girl.”
Saved by my personality. Of course that’s what he thinks.
I roll with it. “Fine. But tell me how many times she complained I wasn’t there to feed her.”
He grumbles. “I’m gonna kill you.”
I laugh too maniacally. “I knew it.”
“Honestly, I’m kind of surprised that I’m talking to you right now. Speaking of Monroe women. I figured Spartacus would’ve killed you by now.”
She’s trying to, but it’s a death I’d take over any other.
“Nah, we figured out a way to get along ...”
“As long as nothing got broken in my house, I’m glad you worked it out. I’ll call when we land.”
I pull into the back parking lot behind the restaurant, remembering I had something to say.
“Hey ... hold up. Did you get my text?”
There’s rustling like he’s getting up from a seat, and then I hear him tell Goldie he’ll be right back. I press the button on the car to put the roof on.
The second it’s done, his voice is low, but there’s less noise. “Yeah, I did. I was gonna talk to you about it when I got home because I’m with Golds. But what’s going on?”
