Page 100 of Trying Sophie

“Hmmm,” he muttered and the line went silent.

“Declan?”

“Yeah?”

“Nothing. Was just checking to see if you were still there.”

“I’m still here,” he said, his voice dropping lower, his breathing slow and steady through the speaker.

“You must be exhausted. I should let you go.”

“Not yet, just …” he trailed off. “Just, talk to me for a bit.”

“About what?”

“I don’t know. Anything. I just want to hear your voice.”

I smiled even though he couldn’t see it. Two minutes ago we’d been saying filthy things to each other, but now we whispered sweet little nothings. I loved the dichotomy of it, how he could be both dirty and gentle. This was a side of Declan that was reserved exclusively for me, and it filled me with a warm, happy glow.

I began speaking quietly, telling him about the time Katie and I’d gone on a northern lights expedition and slept in glass igloos as the night sky shimmered with green and purple above. I described the magic of it and how the aurora borealis was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. When his breathing fell into a steady rhythm, I knew he’d fallen asleep. I continued talking for just a few more minutes, wanting to make sure he was out.

As my story came to a close, I realized on a lurch that I wanted to see the rest of the world with Declan by my side.

As I whispered good night and hung up, I realized that was next to impossible.

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