flinch at the sound, but sort of like that it’s not perfect. It makes me less nervous, and makes her more human. Her eyes linger inappropriately. I’m not oblivious. I never have been. I usually appreciate the doting, but for now, I pretend it isn’t happening.
“Where’s Josh?” she asks, finishing off her glass.
“He went up to his room not too long ago. We have the MTV
interview at eight a.m.”
Kathryn nods, playing with the rim of her wine glass. “If you can’t sleep, we could run through more lines, if you want?” She purrs.
My brows scrunch up. I shake my head and peer back up at the clock, thinking
saved by the bell.
“Actually, the truth is I’m gonna have to pass. I’m just biding my time, and now I can finally head up to my room.”
Her head whips around to watch me sliding off my bar stool as I swing back the last of my drink.
“Biding your time?” she questions curiously.
I grin wide, knowing I’ll be taking great pride in my next words. “Yeah, I have this pact with my girlfriend that I call her at eight p.m. Pacific time. That would be eleven here in New York. I finally get to give her a call.”
Kathryn’s mouth twitches in admiration, and I’m a bit surprised by the reaction. “You seem more excited to call her rather than obligated.”
I’m so instantly relaxed by the fact the time has finally reached eleven that I pull my white dress shirt free from my slacks. The day is done. I chuckle at Kathryn’s question.
“Obligated? No, not at all. I miss her. She was the one who made the plan, but I’d never tell her I’d been having separation anxiety more than her. She’s busy at UCLA, and we don’t want to suffocate each other, so we agreed on calling at night during this trip.”
Not to mention after talking to Josh, I really don’t want to distract Skyler any more than I already do.
Kathryn’s giggles are patronizing. “You seem like a dumbstruck kid in love, Blake. You’re all fidgety and smiley.”
I lift a shoulder of nonchalance. “Maybe I am.”
She nods through the statement, and her eyes that hinted at spice seem to calm into sweetness. “That’s cute. You love your girlfriend. I wish my boyfriend would be as excited to talk to me.”
I take a deep breath, wondering if I want to get into that conversation. I barely know the woman. I’ll try and make this brief. Time is ticking.
“I’m sure he cares. Maybe you should tell him that you miss him. Sometimes you’d be surprised how much the other person wants to hear it before confessing it themselves.”
She sits up straight, revealing a wicked smile that doesn’t meet her eyes. “Have you told your girlfriend how much you miss her?”
The corners of my mouth stretch wide. “I’m about to.”
“She’s a lucky girl.”
I shrug again. “Maybe it’s the other way around.”
There is an awkward pause before I speak again, and I can’t seem to get my bearings on who or what Kathryn Caraway wants, or is like, as I watch her wilt back into her seat. I can’t help myself.
Dammit.
“Are you okay, Kathryn?”
She perks up. “I’m fine. I’m sorry if I come on strong. I don’t mean to.”
Maybe professional relationships are important, but for now, I’ll leave that task for tomorrow.
“No worries. Good night, Kathryn.”
The left corner of her mouth lifts. “Go call your girl. Good night, Blake.”
***
I stroll to the elevator and pull out my cell phone.
11:05pm
.
Now alone, I can’t help myself any longer as I step inside the elevator and press for the twenty-second floor for my hotel room and quickly dial Skyler’s number.
“Blake!” she yelps after the second ring.
“Babe!” I shout back, reveling in her sweet voice that has me easily picturing her smile.
“How was your first day of . . .
stuff
?”
I let out a few laughs at her wording. “The ‘ stuff’ went . . . okay. I stumbled here and there. I miss you.”
“Don’t lie. I know
“Where’s Josh?” she asks, finishing off her glass.
“He went up to his room not too long ago. We have the MTV
interview at eight a.m.”
Kathryn nods, playing with the rim of her wine glass. “If you can’t sleep, we could run through more lines, if you want?” She purrs.
My brows scrunch up. I shake my head and peer back up at the clock, thinking
saved by the bell.
“Actually, the truth is I’m gonna have to pass. I’m just biding my time, and now I can finally head up to my room.”
Her head whips around to watch me sliding off my bar stool as I swing back the last of my drink.
“Biding your time?” she questions curiously.
I grin wide, knowing I’ll be taking great pride in my next words. “Yeah, I have this pact with my girlfriend that I call her at eight p.m. Pacific time. That would be eleven here in New York. I finally get to give her a call.”
Kathryn’s mouth twitches in admiration, and I’m a bit surprised by the reaction. “You seem more excited to call her rather than obligated.”
I’m so instantly relaxed by the fact the time has finally reached eleven that I pull my white dress shirt free from my slacks. The day is done. I chuckle at Kathryn’s question.
“Obligated? No, not at all. I miss her. She was the one who made the plan, but I’d never tell her I’d been having separation anxiety more than her. She’s busy at UCLA, and we don’t want to suffocate each other, so we agreed on calling at night during this trip.”
Not to mention after talking to Josh, I really don’t want to distract Skyler any more than I already do.
Kathryn’s giggles are patronizing. “You seem like a dumbstruck kid in love, Blake. You’re all fidgety and smiley.”
I lift a shoulder of nonchalance. “Maybe I am.”
She nods through the statement, and her eyes that hinted at spice seem to calm into sweetness. “That’s cute. You love your girlfriend. I wish my boyfriend would be as excited to talk to me.”
I take a deep breath, wondering if I want to get into that conversation. I barely know the woman. I’ll try and make this brief. Time is ticking.
“I’m sure he cares. Maybe you should tell him that you miss him. Sometimes you’d be surprised how much the other person wants to hear it before confessing it themselves.”
She sits up straight, revealing a wicked smile that doesn’t meet her eyes. “Have you told your girlfriend how much you miss her?”
The corners of my mouth stretch wide. “I’m about to.”
“She’s a lucky girl.”
I shrug again. “Maybe it’s the other way around.”
There is an awkward pause before I speak again, and I can’t seem to get my bearings on who or what Kathryn Caraway wants, or is like, as I watch her wilt back into her seat. I can’t help myself.
Dammit.
“Are you okay, Kathryn?”
She perks up. “I’m fine. I’m sorry if I come on strong. I don’t mean to.”
Maybe professional relationships are important, but for now, I’ll leave that task for tomorrow.
“No worries. Good night, Kathryn.”
The left corner of her mouth lifts. “Go call your girl. Good night, Blake.”
***
I stroll to the elevator and pull out my cell phone.
11:05pm
.
Now alone, I can’t help myself any longer as I step inside the elevator and press for the twenty-second floor for my hotel room and quickly dial Skyler’s number.
“Blake!” she yelps after the second ring.
“Babe!” I shout back, reveling in her sweet voice that has me easily picturing her smile.
“How was your first day of . . .
stuff
?”
I let out a few laughs at her wording. “The ‘ stuff’ went . . . okay. I stumbled here and there. I miss you.”
“Don’t lie. I know
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