Page 107 of Fall to Me
“Well hello to you too. I’m heading back to work. Do you need anything while we’re out?”
“Yes. I need you to stop and buy yourself a new phone. All that change in the bottom of your damn purse, jingling around like the fucking Salvation Army attendant on the corner atChristmas, hurt my ears. I almost didn’t answer this time,” she snaps.
Damn. Bite my fucking head off, why don’t you.
“I’ll take her to get one,” Carter says, pulling out of the parking lot.
She sighs. “Thank fuck! I’m tired of the damn random phone calls. When you get here, we need to start scouting talent for The Heat Girls or whatever the fuck you’re calling them now. Think you can be back by three?”
“That depends on how many stops I have to make to find something strong enough to adjust your fucking attitude,” I tell her.
Carter’s shoulders shake as he laughs. “Oh, this is gonna be so much fun.”
I shoot him a glare.
“Damnit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be bitchy. I’m trying to get things ready for the Gala next week, and I’m so stressed out. This means so much to Cal, and I don’t want it to flop.”
“It’s not gonna flop. Where’s Hannah?” I ask.
“She’s out sick.”
“Okay. Here’s what we’re gonna do: While I’m out, make a list of what needs to be done, and I’ll help you tackle it when I get back. We can sort out the performers tomorrow and set up a date for auditions. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry again. I love you.”
“I love you back.”
I hang up the phone and lean my head back against the seat, closing my eyes. I’m so freaking tired. As I contemplate this huge change in our plan, this double-the-fun change, I feel myself drifting off as the low volume of Carter’s rock music playing in the background lulls me to sleep.
“Baby, we’re here,” Carter’s voice pulls me out of sleep.
My eyes flutter open as he pulls into a parking lot. He helps me out of the car, then hand-in-hand, we walk into the store together.
“Hi, how can I help you today?” A slender man with glasses greets us.
“My phone is making random phone calls,” I say, handing him my phone. “I don’t understand why. I was hoping maybe you could take a look and see if maybe it’s one of my settings? I would rather not replace it if I don’t have to. Oh, and I think it needs a new battery too.”
“Just get a new phone, Kitten.”
“I don’t want to spend a thousand dollars, Carter.”
“It’s only a thousand dollars.” He shrugs.
I scoff. Only a thousand. Ha! I know he has all the money in the world, and he can throw down a thousand dollars at the drop of a hat, but I can’t. Ignoring him, I turn back to the man helping us.
“I don’t need a new phone. There’s nothing wrong with this phone, other than those two things. Can you take a look? Maybe I need to turn off Siri.”
“Sure. I can help you with that. I’m Toby, by the way. You said your battery has been draining quickly?” he asks as he leads us to a table nearby.
“Yes.”
“Any random reboots or pop ups?”
“Reboots? Sometimes.”
Toby sets the phone on the table. Tapping the screen, he slides the phone over to me, and I enter my password. He pulls the phone back to him, scrolls through all my settings, checking them, then begins scrolling through my apps. “Any apps you don’t recognize? Man, you have a lot on here.”
“I haven’t paid much attention. I’ve had that phone forever so there’s no telling what’s been downloaded over the years.”
