Page 123 of Reckless Storm
A laugh bursts out of me and I straighten up, leaning forward to type. Fucking Luke. That checks out and…
Reed: Luke scored the first touchdown. Lucky you asked
Hayley: Christ, that would have been a bad one to get wrong
Hayley: I never would have lived it down
Reed: Nope. Never. What else do you need to know?
Hayley: What about the score at half time?
Another message comes through before I can respond, and my body tenses when I see that it’s Bria. I’m ninety percent sure this is the longest we’ve gone without speaking, but I’m choosing not to think about that too. I’m still trying to process how the fuck I feel. I miss her. I do. But until I know how to fixus, there’s not much I can say.
Ignoring her message, I read Hayley’s follow-up text and chuckle.
Hayley: Actually wait… he’s likely to ask something obscure, like what color shirt was D’Angelo wearing?
Reed: You mean Daddy D’Angelo (wink emoji, laughing emoji, crying emoji, cool dude emoji)
God, I’m funny.
I’m still chuckling to myself when my phone rings, vibrating in my hand, making me startle and drop it. Watching it slide under the couch, I curse.Dammit.
I jump down to get it, stretching my hand as far as it will go, rummaging around until my fingertips finally strike gold.
“Hello,” I answer as I straighten up, banging my head into the coffee table. “Motherfucker,” I curse, rubbing the ache.
“I’ve done a lot of things, but never that.”
“Shit. Sorry about that. But probably lucky it was you, Hayley Baby.” I smile at her nickname and she giggles.
“I knew it! Golden Boy, are you drunk?”
“What? Nuh-uh,” I whine, shaking my head even though she can’t see me. I’m not drunk, I just drank. There’s a difference.
“I’m going to take that as a yes.”
“I’mfine. You were asking about a shirt?”
“Bonus points for remembering.”
“I don’t remember. The color, I mean. I should have been paying more attention.”
“So disappointing.” Hayley giggles again and the sound makes me melt.
“I’ll be better next time.”
“No need, I’ll be watching. It’s my last day before I fly home, and I’ve made no other plans.”
I smile, my chest tight with emotion. “Thanks, Hayls. I’ll blow you a kiss. It’s nice to know you care.”
“Of course I care. You’re my man.” She repeats her earlier sentiment, but hearing it out loud makes it so much sweeter.
“If only you were here so I could show you howyourman would be rewarding you right now.”
“Reed!”
“Yeah.”
