Page 68 of Play of Love
I spoke before Hilda could answer. “Man, why don’t you just ask her out and be done with it?”
Hilda’s face turned red, but wasn’t worse than Robin’s, whose face colored fiercely, making his fair features and blond hair stand out.
I wasn’t into this beating around the bush crap and making up clever excuses to ask a woman out. I’d never been like that and found it to be such a waste of time.
“Josh, geez,” Hilda scolded.
But once again I ignored her. I knew what I was talking about. “Well, don’t just stand there, man, state your intentions for my Hilda and I will let her know if you are worthy of her presence.”
Robin laughed now and Hilda looked up at me with an expression of awe on her face.
“I was hoping to ask her out to dinner,” Robin confessed.
Hilda looked surprised to hear that.
I nodded. “Okay, isn’t that better? You seem alright and not too shabby. What do you think, Hilda?”
Hilda started to laugh. “I think I would love to go to dinner.”
“Cool, there you go.”
Robin smiled and left us. I shrugged into my jacket and swung my backpack over my shoulder.
“Thank you.” Hilda still looked at me with gratitude. “I’ve never had anyone do that for me.”
“You’re most welcome. I have another thing like this tomorrow. Will you come if Amy is still sick?”
“Of course.” Her eyes sparkled.
“Have you heard from her since this morning?”
I hadn’t managed to call or message back yet because of being here. When the message came through I was already late to leave. I thought I’d have a moment throughout the day but hadn’t had much of a break.
Hilda shook her head. “I was going to swing by her place tomorrow and see her.”
“Let’s go together after the shoot.”
I thought I’d call her now, though, because I just wanted to hear her voice. I’d never called her before.
Hilda went to gather her stuff as I took out my phone and hit Amy’s number.
Amy answered on the second ring. “Josh.” Her voice sounded weak.
“Baby, I miss you so much.”
“Hey.” There was a smile in her voice. “I miss you too. Did…um your shoot go okay?” Now her voice sounded shaky. Not like when you were sick, but more like…
Worried, scared maybe. Maybe that was just how she sounded when she was sick.
“There were women all over me; I had to fend them off.”
There was a long pause, then she breathed into the phone. “Oh, that’s good.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Did you hear what I said?”
“I think so.” Now I was sure she was crying and alarm struck me.
“Amy, baby, are you okay? I was totally joking about the women.”
