Never in my life has it been this difficult to get a woman’s number.
“Cal,” I say, my tone suggesting it was a last-minute thought. I hold out my hand. “I need to get that address from Maggie.”
He pulls up the text and holds it out for me to see.
Trying to act casual, I take the phone from his hands. “I just need to write it down.” I pretend—an Oscar-winning performance—to look for a piece of paper. When I don’t find one, I simply say, “I’ll screenshot it to myself.”
I tap Callum’s phone discreetly, clicking on her name. Up pops all of Maggie McCrae’s information. Her number for the taking. I send myself that screenshot. But not the message with the party address.
I close out of his texting app and nod.Innocent. Then, I pass my friend back his phone.
Man, I’m good.
Me: Hello there, Maggie McCrae.
My text is metwith silence. I can see it’s been delivered and that the girl has left me on read. So, I give her another six minutes before I text again.
Me: No reply at all. That’s not very polite. Especially seeing how I’m doing you this giant favor of coming to your nephew’s party and all.
This time, I am not disappointed. Ten seconds later, I am presented with:
Maggie: LUCCA?
Me: The one and only.
Maggie: I thought you were a bot. Or a creeper. Or a salesman creeper bot. I was just about to block you.
Maggie: Callum gave you my number?
Me: He did not. I was charming and conniving and stole it.
Maggie: Sounds right.
Me: If you want me at your nephew’s party, that means you must communicate with me. Sorry.
Maggie: Have I not made myself clear? I DON’T want you. Wyatt wants you.
Me: I don’t see the difference.
Maggie: It’s not that difficult. Wyatt and I are not the same person. We don’t desire the same things. Not everyone wants you, Lucca Cruz.
Me: But you do want Saint Lucca to come to your nephew’s party. Don’t you? Even if that reason is Wyatt. YOU want me to come. For him.
Silence.
Me: I’m going to need to hear you say it. Or in this case, write it out.
Maggie: You’re despicable.
Me: I’m usually called adorable.
Me: I’ll wait.
And I do. For two whole minutes.
Maggie: For reasons that have nothing at all to do with any type of adoration for you, yes, I want you to come to my nephew’s party. Because it will make Wyatt happy. Because it’s all he wants for his birthday. Because, despite the fact that it caused me physical pain to ask you, and that it most likely goes against the FIFA Code of Conduct, and that I am loathing every second of this text thread, it’s what Wyatt wants.
Me: Was that so difficult?
