Page 100 of Love on the Line

Chapter 34

Anne sippeda cup of coffee at the kitchen table and gazed at the huge diamond on her finger. Excitement danced in her chest. Wyatt had shocked her with the proposal, but she’d followed her heart and said yes.

His ringtone sounded, and she grabbed the phone. “Good morning. Did you and John have fun last night?”

No response.

“Wyatt? You there?”

“Yeah. It was okay. We’re going to be busy at this event, so I figured I’d call now. Is the wine and cheese party still on for tonight?”

“As far as I know. You sure everything was all right with John?” Usually Wyatt laughed or made some joke about the guy.

“He’s fine. So, you’ll call me if anything changes about you sleeping over at Emily’s?”

Anne stood and went to the coffee maker for a refill. “I guess, but why would it?”

“Stuff happens. Like maybe you drink too much and get sick or something.”

“When have I ever done that? And if I did, then I would feel like crap the next morning. Besides, I’m still recovering from the concussion, so I’ll stick to soda.” She poured the coffee but sloshed some over the side, burning her finger. Damn. She ran it under cool water.

Wyatt continued, “Well, you may decide you want to go home, and then someone would have to take you and—”

“Everyone else is going to be drinking. No one would drive me home.” She frowned and turned off the faucet.

“They could get an Uber.”

“What?” She thrust a hand on her hip. “If I got sick, which is not happening for the record, do you think my friends would shove me into a car with a stranger and send me on my way?”

Wyatt sighed. “I guess not.”

“No, they wouldn’t.” She picked her mug up and returned to the table.

“I know you won’t get sick, but something else could happen, like a pipe bursting that floods the place.”

Anne choked on her coffee, irritating her throat. What the hell was wrong with him? She held the phone away until her coughing fit subsided. She slowly returned it to her ear, wary of what insanity might come over the line next. “A pipe bursting? Emily’s apartment is brand new. This is the stupidest conversation we’ve ever had. Why are you imagining all this stuff?”

Silence.

She rubbed her neck. “Wyatt?”

“I’m worried because of the attack, and I don’t like being out of town,” he said, resignation in his tone.

She let out a breath. “I’ve been fine all week. You can stay over when you get back in—”

“No,” he said, sharply.

Anne blinked. “What? I thought you said you were worried—”

“I did, but…I mean…you’re right. I’m being paranoid. You’re okay without me there.”

A dull ache formed in her head. She smoothed the lines over her brow. He was making her crazy now. “Try to enjoy the kids and relax. I promise if anything comes up, I’ll call you. If a pipe bursts, a fire alarm sets off all the sprinklers, or a mandatory evacuation is declared, I will let you know. All right?”

“Yeah.” He paused, his voice softer. “Remember, I love you.”

Like always, her heart did a slow melt when he said those words. “I love you, too. Now, drive safe and see you tomorrow.”

She hung up and slid the phone across the table, eyeing the thing as if it were possessed. Between the attack and the proposal, the last week had been super stressful. Anyone could crack a little under all that pressure. She’d give Wyatt a pass.

Shaking her head, she couldn’t help but half-smile. Bursting pipes?

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