It’s nothing like home.
I pick up my phone and call Jules. I have no idea if she’ll be happy to hear from me, but even arguing with her is far more enjoyable than holding yet another stiff, fake conversation with those business dudes.
The moment her raspy voice comes through the line, my tense muscles begin to relax.
“Jules. Hey. It’s Lincoln.” I try to keep my tone casual, not giving away that I’ve been waiting to hear her voice all day.
I hear a quiet laugh. “I know. I have caller ID.”
“Right.” I’m such an idiot. “Hard to turn off business mode. Sorry. Long day.”
“Right,” she says with a wistful sigh. “I understand.”
“How’s Cameron? How was his day?” I question her.
She runs through the highlights. Her voice is soft and lazy, making me wonder if she’s in bed, too. After she tells me about the park and dinner and homework, the conversation lulls.
I want to ask her about her day. I want her to keep talking. About anything. Everything.
But I don’t know if I’m allowed to gothere.
I’ve tried knocking down the walls between us, and each time, it’s blown up in my face. Jules seems determined to keep propping up those boundaries between us.
“I’d better let you go. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate,” she says after a while. “I’ll have Cameron call you in the morning, so he can say hi before school.”
I’m not ready to end the call. Not yet. Just…not yet.
“Wait!” I call out.
“Yes?” she asks sweetly.
“Did you check the thermostat settings? Cameron won’t sleep well if his room is too warm.”
“Yep. It’s on sixty-eight, like you wrote down in your notes.”
“Oh, right. Great. Thank you.”
After a short silence, Jules speaks. “Well, good nigh—”
“Wait!” I panic, not ready for her to hang up. “Cameron’s scrape. Are you sure it’s good? It’s healing well? He doesn’t need stitches?”
Jules chuckles. "He got a cartoon bandaid, Lincoln. Trust me, the wound is fine.”
“No more bleeding?” I stall again.
“I stopped the bleeding with a powerful glare. Don’t worry.”
“Oh, of course you did.” I chuckle.
“Okay, so…talk to you in the morning?” Jules asks, sounding a little confused as she tries again to end our call.
But I like the sound of her voice too much to say goodbye so fast. I just want her to keep talking. Those assholes are right about one thing.I actuallymightbe whipped.
“Is that all, your majesty?"
I smile. What a snarky little thing I married.
“I…uh…”
