Page 45 of The Hookup Situation

I want to say all of that, but I can’t, so instead I say, “Nothing, I uh, I just wanted to say thank you again for coming tonight.” My voice is hoarse, but I’ll blame it on the cold I’m getting and not admit I’ve been sobbing.

“Yeah, of course.” There’s a pause and then, “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, just can’t sleep,” I murmur. “I’m sorry. I should go. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“Hey, wait,” he says. “Don’t go. I can’t sleep either. And I never did get to tell you how much I like the sound of your voice over the phone.”

I chuckle a little, and a small amount of that overwhelming grief dissipates. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he says, those damned butterflies returning. “Sexy, and soothing. So, talk to me. Let me fall asleep to your voice.”

I rest my arm under my head and stare at the ceiling. I wonder if he knows I feel the exact same way about his voice. “What should we talk about?”

“Tell me about you.”

“What about me?”

“Anything. Tell me anything about you that I don’t already know.”

I chuckle again. “Like what?”

“Like, what’s your favorite color?”

“Mmm, I don’t know,” I tease, “that’s kinda personal.”

He laughs. “Mine’s blue.”

“Red,” I offer, softly.

“Like my shirt tonight?”

Another chuckle. “Yeah, just like that. Red with holes in it.”

His laugh is heartier this time and it fills me with warmth and comfort. “Favorite ice cream?”

“Mint Chocolate Chip. You?”

“Cookie Dough, but with like, mostly cookie dough chunks and a little bit of ice cream.”

“Ahh, you want some ice cream with your cookie dough.”

“Exactly. Now you go.”

I blow out a breath. “Favorite movie?”

“Remember the Titans.”

“Ooh, you like the classics. Makes sense, what with you being so old and all.”

“Shut up,” he volleys. “Can I guess yours?”

“Sure.”

“Lord of the Rings.”

“But whichLord of the Rings?”

“Oh, god. Um….Two Towers?”

---