(210) 555 - 6612: Yes
The three dots appeared on the screen and she waited to see what he was typing.
It stopped.
And started again.
Just when her eyes started to drift closed, her phone pinged.
Noelle opened her eyes and saw the message on the screen.
(210) 555 - 6612: How many McCrae's do you know?
She chuckled and the phone in her hand shook so she couldn’t see the screen or type.
(210) 555 - 6612: As far as I know, my mother is the only one who saddled a kid with that name.
Saddled, she laughed softly.
What a cowboy.
She shook her head and managed to still herself enough to type.
NENA: Just you
NENA: Sorry, Half asleep
(210) 555 - 6612: Sorry, should have looked at the time
Her eyes were heavy, but she had a feeling that McCrae was upset about what happened earlier in the evening.
While they didn’t know each other well, she had a feeling that it really bothered him. She’d met his mother. She’d seen how they were together. And he’d been very careful with her while she’d been on site as his family’s property.
He might look like a hard man, but she’d seen the softer side of him.
She felt like she should try to soothe him. Maybe it might help her own unsettled feelings to talk to him about his own.
That thought-
That instinct felt right.
She lifted the phone and touched the CALL icon.
The phone rang once before it was answered.
“Noelle?”
She smiled at the question in his voice. “Who else would be calling you from my phone?”
“True ‘nuff.” He laughed on the other end of the call and then it faded away. “I’m sorry for what happened today.”
She heard the earnest tone of his voice. “Thank you.” Her body relaxed into the mattress.
Just his words helped to take away some of the stress she was still struggling with.
“I thought it would help to get you the pass in case we were called out of the office before you got there.”
“It was a nice thought, McCrae. Really. You had no idea- None of us did.”
