Daphne shakes her head. “No, Fred already took care of it. They’re coming to pick us up now.”
We chat a little and then head out to the car when it arrives.
Sitting in the car, I check my emails quickly and then look at my text messages. There wasn’t an icon at the top of my screen, but I have to make sure I didn’t forget to answer someone from a few days ago.
Instead, there’s a random number there. If it’s oneof those spam texts I’ve gotten a lot lately, I’ll just swipe and delete it.
There’s only a small part of it that’s showing up in the summary.
I’m going to be so stiff
I’m not sure I want to know the rest of that. I go to delete it, but my thumb fumbles and clicks on it instead.
I’m going to be so stiff tomorrow. Those sprints killed me.
I grin, realizing it’s Burton. Did he ask Clark or Jessa for my number?
The text message came through at least thirty minutes ago, while I was sleeping. I shift in the seat, trying to come up with something to say back.
It’s going to be worse in two days. Good luck with that.
I send it and watch the screen for a few moments, remembering the run several hours before. When he took off at the same time I did, it sent my adrenaline racing to a higher level, reminding me of my days in track and cross-country.
Did I let him win? Possibly. Or maybe I was tired.
“What’s got you smiling like that?” Daphne says. “Did you meet someone between our flight and now?” She gives me a wink, and I laugh. The lady either has an eye twitch or just loves to wink.
“No, I don’t think that’s even remotely a talent I have. My neighbor texted me. He came out while I was doing a workout this morning and joined me. Sounds like he’s already sore.” Then again, this guy does a lot of running and working out as a professional athlete. Is he just exaggerating to have something to talk to me about?
“A neighbor who’s a guy, huh? Is he cute?”
How do I answer that and give nothing away? He’s cute, but not the type of guy I usually fall for.
Then again, Tim shouldn’t be my standard.
“He’s very handsome. He plays for the Salt Lake Lancers.”
She smiles. “I love those guys. I worked on several of their games last summer. And when Jessa and Clark got together, it was so cute. I was at that press conference when she defended him. It was like true love waiting to happen.”
I’m not exactly sure what she’s talking about, but I nod my head and smile like I do.
“I just moved in with Jessa, well, I will when we get back from this trip. Clark and his teammates live across the road.”
“Who’s the one who’s texting you?” she asks, looking down at my phone.
“His name is Burton? He finally told me that’s his last name, but I don’t know the first.”
I kind of hope Daphne has some insight, but a text from the same number comes through again.
This is Burton. That probably should’ve been the first text.
I try not to smile too broadly because Daphne is watching my expressions like I’ll crack at any moment.
How did you get this number?
“Is he a really tall guy?” Daphne asks after checking something on her own phone. After I nod, she says, “I remember him. He’s really funny.”
I haven’t seen him on the ultra-funny side of things. Okay, maybe the whole “dead body” thing is funny now, looking back. Burton has been nothing but a gentleman.
