Page 19 of Eternally Yours
“My phone was dead. Why are you whispering?” I ask, bemused at how odd his behavior is.
“Because I hid in the bathroom so that I could try to get a hold of you, Morgan’s starting to scare me. She keeps giving me the stink eye because of you.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“You were supposed to be here hours ago!” he shouts a bit louder into the phone.
I pull the phone away from the angry voice in my ear and decide to set it down on the kitchen island, placing it on speakerphone as I walk over to the fridge and grab a water bottle.
After guzzling half of its content in one go, I recap it and set it down, then press the palms of my hands onto the counter, my phone resting between them. “You’re gonna have to give more here, Burkley. Why was I supposed to be at your place?”
“FOR FUCK’S SAKE, HAYES!” I hear him breathing hard, trying to calm himself down. “You promised Morgan last night that you’d be here early to help out with the decorations... it’s the first!”
“SHIT!” It had completely escaped my mind, but I do vaguely remember agreeing to help Morgan last night after speaking to Cecilia on the phone for the first time.
Morgan, being the interior designer, has a love for decorating, and Halloween just so happens to be her favorite holiday. Every year like clockwork, Morgan decorates her home from top to bottom on the first of the month.
Ever since the tradition started three years ago when they began dating, I’ve been helping out with everything that requires height. Not that her husband is that much shorter than me, but as she’s stated in the past, he apparently doesn’t have the eye for what looks good and what doesn’t.
“Yeah,shit. So, you’d better be making your way over here soon.”
I’m about to tell him I’m on my way when it hits me that I have my date with Cecilia tonight. I don’t have to pick her up until five, but if there’s one thing Ilearned in the last three years, it’s that I won’t be out of there by five.Fuck!
I could always tell them that I can’t make it to be on time for Cecilia, but I’d feel guilty. Morgan has always been there for me as a friend. Just yesterday she was giving me moral support while I waited for a sign from my girl. I can’t do that to Morgan, but there’s also no way I’m canceling on Minnie.
A thought suddenly comes to mind. I’m just a little uncertain of how my girl will feel about it, but it’s worth a shot and solves both my problems.
“You mind if I bring help?” I ask him. I know he’ll say yes, but I still prefer giving them a heads up.
“I don’t care if you bring the whole damn church choir, Silas. Just get your ass down here fast before my wife has a meltdown!” The line goes dead after his statement.
Wow, he must really be mad to hang up like that.Taking a deep breath, I pick up my phone and dial Cecilia’s number, praying it all works out. The line rings twice before she picks up.
“Hello?” There are muffled voices in the background.Shit, she might be busy.
“Hello, Minnie.”
“Hi,” her voice softens, turning into a purr.
My chest warms at the visible effect I have on her. If only she knew just how much she affects me, too. “What are you doing right now?”
“Um, nothing really. Just watching a TV show with Em, why?” she asks, sounding worried.
“There’s been a slight change of plans. Can you be ready in ten? I’ll come down and get you.” I bite the inside of my lip.Please, say yes. Please, say yes.
Being optimistic, I grab my keys and wallet off the console table in the entryway and head for the door. I’d normally take my private elevator that only gives access to my floor, the lobby, and garage. But since I’m picking up a lovely lady three floors down, I take the main elevator cab.
“Like, right now?” She sounds hesitant.You know you want to, Minnie.
“Yes, right now. I’m already heading for the elevator.”
“You said ten minutes!”
“Then chop-chop, Minnie. The clock is ticking,” I tell her, chuckling as I press the call button for the cab.
She shrieks loudly in my ear, followed by the sound of what I think is her running before she hangs up. It takes me less than two minutes to make it to her door, and I knock on it with a wide smile. She’s going to hate me once she finds out where I’m taking her.
The door swings open a second later and a tall red-headed woman stands before me in a silk short and shirt pajama set.Well, tall next to Cecilia, still short compared to me.I presume this must be Emma Mackenzie, the famous roommate and best friend.
