Page 69 of 13 Rules For Fantastic Phone Sex

“Is there something you want to know, Kait?”

“No, not at all,” I say. Argh.

“Yes, that’s right. You don’t care who he dates, right? You don’t love him or want to have his black-haired, green-eyed Irish babies.”

He stops.

Again with the silence.

“I thought we were aspiring besties, Julian, but this makes me think we’re frenemies, arch-frenemies.”

“Fine,” he huffs.

The wound that opens in my chest is a killing blow. I blink once, then a dozen times to keep the excess moisture from spilling. Allergies.

“Saoirse called me last Monday because Henry said the words—and I quote—‘I’m emotionally involved’ at family dinner when they were teasing him about his girlfriend Kait. This after months of probing questions about you because Saoirse told everyone about his new phone friend. Our turtle didn’t lie—he didn’t say he had a girlfriend; he said he’s emotionally involved. Don’t you worry about the friends-with-benefits thing for another moment. He’s falling for you, hard if he’s talking about you to anyone other than Lachlan or Saoirse. He isn’t ready to admit it—to you—yet. But he told his family about you.”

I don’t have a response, but my heart is racing, and my palms are inexplicably moist. Moist. Eww.

Henry talked about me at family dinner and said he was emotionally involved?

I cover my mouth with my hands, but I have no idea why. I’ve been rendered utterly speechless. I’ve always thought he just needed a little more time, that maybe he felt a little bit more for me than just a friendship, but this? This is freaking fantastic.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

HENRY

“AN ARROW IN THE WALL” — DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

My morning starts with a call from a feisty Kait. We’ve been talking every night since the day when things became mutual, aka the greatest day ever, when we both got off and it stopped being a just-me thing. Still, a morning call is a pleasant surprise.

“Mmmmm,” I say, stretching as I answer the phone, then tugging the sheet and comforter up higher to cover my bare skin as I sit up. “Hi.”

No sooner do I answer than there’s an attack falling from her caffeinated lips. “I got home from work and realized something. Other than Muse and Depeche Mode, I’m not sure there’s any music worth putting on a Best of Britain playlist.”

I roll my eyes, even as my dick perks up. I’m well versed in the way of the Kait, so I don’t dignify this with a response. I lean back against my headboard and smile, and wait for her to escalate.

A predawn call is a beautiful thing, even though they’re often the complete opposite of our languorous, quiet evening conversations. Kait is a morning glory, rise and shine, and start-the-day-off-right perky girl—well, morning for me and bedtime for her, technically.

“I mean the Stones and The Who are decent, of course, but best implies so much better than adequate, doesn’t it?”

“Good morning, Kait.” It’s my scratchy morning voice.

“Henry, I’m speaking the truth.” Such a tease. “There’s a real issue here.”

“Kait,” I growl. Much to my amusement, she stifles a laugh. “If you woke up horny, just say so.”

“Why would you say that?” she protests. “I’m not horny.”

“Lies. You’re always horny. You and your sapiosexual kink, getting hot debating things you know I’m passionate about,” I say and lean over to turn off my alarm as it starts to fill the room. “Babe, I only have ninety minutes until I need to be at work, so how about we don’t?”

“I…” She sounds so disappointed, and I have to smile.

“I have time for horny, sweetheart,” I say, always willing to indulge her. “I don’t have time for a debate. Put the tea down, get your clothes off and your ass in bed, or I’m going for a run. I’ll get all sweaty, then jerk off in the shower, and I will not let you listen.” And with that, the debate is over.

Sometimes she needs to be handled. The swish of her down comforter being flipped aside is all the evidence I need that she’s compliant with my quite reasonable demands.

A toy I deeply envy leads to Kait making sounds that will be etched in my brain, and I’m left satiated and smiling like I won the lottery.