Page 23 of Winter's Surprise
“Michelle, quit it!” she scolded herself as her thoughts flew right into psycho land.
She inhaled deeply and tapped out one text before erasing it and repeating it before she finally hit send.
Michelle Harper: Is that a fact?
When the phone stayed silent for a few minutes, she forced herself to put it away and get back to work. Only, her mind was pure chaos, second-guessing her words and her emotions flying around. Michelle jumped when the ringtone she’d assigned to Jake filled her office.
She stared at the photo of Jake for a second before finally answering. “Hello?”
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah? Why?” Michelle asked, her skin prickling at only the sound of his voice.
She heard a rustle before he sighed. “Your last text…”
“What about it?” she asked after he trailed off.
“It’s a fact, Elle. I thought you knew that.” When she didn’t speak, he continued. “I am not seeing anyone else. I haven’t looked at another woman since the night I met you. I didn’t expect or plan to have this conversation over the phone either. Now… ugh… I hate to have to ask this over the phone without seeing your face, but—”
“What?” The word came out barely audible.
“Areyouseeing someone else? Is that what thi—”
“No!” She practically screamed into the phone. “No. Honey, it’s only been you.” Her words ended with a sigh.
She heard a loud gush of air from the breath he must have been holding. “Oh, good… shit, that’s good to hear.”
Michelle giggled at his relief.
“Elle, you don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to ask you that. Then as the days passed and we hadn’t seen each other…”
She smiled. “Jake I’m glad you brought this up. I’ve wondered the same, but was too chickenshit to ask.”
His throaty chuckle brought a calm over her she couldn’t quite describe. “Elle?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m yours… are you mine?” His words were low as though he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to his question. The vulnerability in his voice was clear as day to her.
“Yes…”
“Good, because I don’t share.”
Before Michelle could reply, she heard the call end. His words echoed in her head until she forced herself to focus on her work. She would never get home in time to talk to him if she spent her time daydreaming.
At least the conversation calmed her earlier fears. Jake didn’t share. That was a good thing because neither did she.
