Page 16 of Freedom Ride

Chapter Ten

Lennox

“You answer it.”

Marty tipped his head to the side.

“I’m serious.”

My phone stopped ringing, and Jonas’ name flashed on the screen under missed call.

Doc let out a bark and flopped down on my pillow.

“Why didn’t you answer it?” I asked Doc. “What good are the two of you when you can’t even answer the phone for me?” I demanded. “You gotta earn your kibble, boys.”

Marty scooted forward and rested his paw on my arm.

“Don’t look at me like that, Marty. You know I’m nervous, and I just know I am going to ramble like an idiot with Jonas. This is why I never wanted to talk to him on the phone all of these years. I’m much better with pen and paper.”

It was half past nine, and I was still in bed. Partly because I hadn’t been able to fall asleep until well after three because my mind wouldn’t stop racing about Jonas calling me this morning.

My phone lit up, and Jonas’ name flashed on the screen while my ringtone sounded.

“Oh boy,” I whispered.

Marty laid down and rested his head on my leg.

“Not going to answer it again?” I asked him.

Marty’s eyes fluttered shut, and I knew he wasn’t going to be any help for me.

I snatched my phone off the bed and connected the call. “Hello?” I called when I pressed the phone to my ear.

“Lennox?”

My heart fluttered at my name.Oh, boy.All he said was my name. “Uh, that’s me,” I chirped.

His low chuckle sounded in my ear. “You had me worried for a second that you gave me a fake number.”

“Fake number?” I tittered. “We’ve been talking for three years, Jonas. I think we moved past giving each other fake numbers.”Hey, that was pretty good. Maybe I wasn’t going to suck at talking on the phone.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jonas agreed.

And silence.

Long awkward silence.

“Glad to be out of prison?” I blurted. I closed my eyes and wished for a time machine so I could go back forty seconds and just shut my mouth.

“Uh, yeah. I think there might be something wrong with me if I wasn’t,” he laughed. “It’s good to be back with my family.”

“I’m happy for you. Did you get your meal and bed?”

“Did I,” he sighed. “I’m still full of the feast Meg and Bristol made.”

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