Page 61 of Wildest Dreams

“Yours too. I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you in a long time. I’ve been sorting myself out.”

“No, it’s okay. I totally get it.”

“I have missed you, though.”

I exhale a deep breath. It’s everything I’ve wanted to hear for months. “God, I miss you too.”

“How have you been?”

“Good, I guess. I just finished all the promo stuff for that action movie I told you about. Pretty soon the same press tour will gear up forGossamer Road. So, you know, work stuff.”

“After that?”

“I haven’t signed on for anything beyond that. I’m trying to figure things out myself.”

“Well,” she says, her tone lighter, “I guess you really liked that shirt I bought you.”

I smile. “So you’ve been cyberstalking me?”

“No, Patsy has.”

“Ah. Of course. How is Patsy?”

“She’s good. Just chasing young’uns around as usual.”

I chuckle, then we settle into an awkward silence.

“Listen, Kendall, I know we said we were going to leave things and let them end when I left town, but I miss you so much I can’t stand it.”

“I know. Me too.”

“Can I see you again? I’ll fly you out here, or I can go there while I have down time. Hell, we can both take off and go to Europe for a month if that’s what you want. I don’t care. I only want to be with you.”

“Well, I can’t go anywhere for the next few months. January kicks off tax season.”

“Oh, yeah. Of course.”

“But you’re welcome to keep me company here. I’ll be working late most nights until the end of April. It’ll be super boring for you, but you’re more than welcome to stay as long as you want and distract me when I’m ready to pull my hair out.”

“I’d love that,” I say. “I’ll be your housewife and have dinner ready for you each night.”

“That sounds amazing,” she says. “I’ve always wanted a housewife.”

“How soon can I come?”

“As soon as you like.”

We end the call, and though I want to tell her I love her, I decide to wait and do it in person. I go to the kitchen, where Harriett has finished unpacking my groceries.

“You might as well repack all the food and take it home with you,” I say.

“What? Why?”

“I need you to book me a flight to Atlanta asap. And drive me to the airport.”

She raises her eyebrows. “Okay.”

KENDALL