“Hey, no sexy talk. I’m still mad.”
He chuckles. “Trust me, I didn’t wanna give it to her, but she cornered me at the grocery store when I was buying your birthday dinner. Anthony was there, and she keeps asking me to play with him. It’s not like I could tell her I plan to bang my girlfriend all night and every weekend until the end of time, so…”
His voice lingers, but my breath hitches.
“Hello?” he says into the silence.
“Did you just call me yourgirlfriend?”
“Well yes, that’s what you are until I make you my wife.”
At that moment, I swear my heart stops as I nearly burst into tears. It’s different hearing him call me his girlfriend and especiallywife.
“Katie. Are you having an internal meltdown? Should I come over?”
“Yes,” I blurt out. “Wait, no. I mean…” I clear my throat. “No, I’m not having a meltdown, just a little frazzled.”
“Thank God I didn’t say the L-word.” He chuckles.
I roll my eyes because he’s already confessed he’s been in love with me. Though no telling what hearing those three words will do to me. “What if I bring Owen with me to play with Anthony, and I can use the excuse of having to take him home to bow out early? That way, it’ll be crystal clear we’re hanging out as friends.”
“Except I don’t want Owen around her.”
“He’ll be with me,” he reassures. “I’d never let anything bad happen to him.”
I suck in a breath and sigh. “I’ll think about it.”
“Alright, my stubborn girl,” he taunts. “Now tell me what you’re wearing and climb into bed so I can whisper dirty things to you.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I can’t stop smiling. Just like the past three nights, we stay up late talking and teasing each other.
I don’t remember ever being this damn happy.
CHAPTERTWENTY
KATIE
Gemma: Swing by on your lunch break. I wanna show you the gym’s progress. I’ll feed you pizza!
I smilewhen I read her message. Of course she’d persuade me with food.
Katie: I have my Friday conference call at 1.
After I hit send, I add an eye-rolling emoji.
Gemma: That gives you an hour if you leave in 15 minutes!
I sigh, unable to deny my best friend.
Katie: Alright fine. Ya twisted my arm. See you soon.
Gemma: YAY!
I finish the email I was writing, then log off my computer. Once I’m in the lobby, I see Loretta and wave.
“Fancy seein’ you here,” I say as she looks around nervously. “You okay?”
“Oh yeah, sweetie. I’m fine. Just someone giving Elliot and me a hard time, so it’s got me a little flustered, but it’s nothing you need to worry about.”