Page 75 of Destined To Fall

J: Ha. Only if we were married.

V: Semantics.

J: Let me see if I’ve got this right. If I get myself sent to prison, you’d marry me, just so you can have sex with me? Yeah, totally makes sense. I’ll remember that. Go tend to Laura. I’ll catch you on the flip side.

I really didn’t think that through.

“You’re never going to guess where I’m going and who’s going to be there.”

“Hello to you too, Jer.”

“Hey.”

“Did you start the beginning of that sentence in your head before calling me?”

“Possibly.”

“Okay, I’ll bite. Hmm, you’re going to hell because you finally had sex again and God smited you. But you got one last call before you’re locked down below, and you rang to tell me all about it?”

Jeremy’s laugh rings out in a boom over the phone, making me grin all over.

“You’re echoey. I’m right, aren’t I? Wait, should I be mad it wasn’t with me? That hurts, Jer. I thought we were friends.”

His laugh titters.“I think your version of friendship differs from mine, Viv.”

“Indubitably. Am I close?”

“You’re definitely warm on the unthinkable factor.”

“You’re on your way to my place to profess your undying love?” I snigger at that.

“That’s not even a good guess. Colder.”

I laugh, but— “Wait. Colder? Don’t you mean—”

“Okay, so you give up, awesome—”

“Hold up. I never said that.” I’m just stuck on the colder part. Is that more likely, or less?

“As you may know, it’s Thanksgiving in three weeks.”

“And? Damn it, now I want a pumpkin-spiced latte.”

“With extra syrup.”

“I was just about to say that. Okay, so you’re losing me. Where are you going, and who’s going to be there?”

“Lydia’s.”

“You said you do that every other week. That’s hardly newsworthy.”

“Yes, but—”

“Oh my god.”

“And the light bulb goes on.”

“He isn’t?”

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