Giddy with excitement, I cross my legs and watch my phone for his response. I wait, growing impatient with every second that ticks by, anticipating that damn ellipsis bubble that shows me he’s responding. It doesn’t come, so I decide to call him instead.
The call connects on the first ring, but I don’t wait for him to say anything. “Did you get my picture?”
He laughs softly. “Indeed I did. Kind of unfair to send me something like that when I’m still well over an hour from seeing you, don’t you think?”
Stifling a giggle, I hum, trying to sound sultry. “Nah. I don’t think so. I was just giving you a tiny preview of what awaits when you get here.”
I think I hear him groan. “Please don’t let that be a joke.”
This time I can’t hold back my laugh. “Well, yeah, it was, but now…”
“I think it’s official. I’ve corrupted you.”
“Not at all. You’ve just liberated a part of me that’s been suppressed.” I sigh softly. “And I don’t know about you, but I kind of like it.”
“Oh, I definitely like it,” he explains. There’s a pause, and then Greyston comes back on the line, the mood shifting from playful to business. “Xander just showed up. I’ll be home within the hour, though. You get everything set up?”
“I did. I was able to reserve the court for two.” Excitement zips through my veins; I haven’t been paintballing in ages, and I can’t wait to get in the arena and have fun with Greyston and our friends.
“Perfect.”
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t good, and I don’t think he really realizes the situation he could find himself in. “When I was asking Dad for the number, I think he was a little sad he couldn’t come. But he’s got to go to work.”
Greyston laughs. “Well, I think that having one trained marksman in the game is more than enough, thank you very much.” I can tell he’s only joking, but I smile, knowing he’s not too far off the mark.
I don’t tell him this, though, not wanting to worry him; it has been ages since I’ve been, so there’s a good chance I’m a little rusty. “Ha ha. It’s not like he trained me to be some kind of sleeper agent. He only wanted me to be able to take care of myself.”
“I’m just saying, if we had him along, none of us would stand a chance against the two of you.”
I decide to amp up the playful banter, maybe even stir up a little of Greyston’s competitive spirit. “And you think you stand a chance with just me?” It’s only a flash, but I sense his apprehension over the phone. “Well,” I continue, “I guess we’ll find out later.”
He’s trying to mask it, but I hear the uncertainty in his voice. “You don’t scare me.”
The right corner of my mouth twists up into a smirk as I hum. “You probably shouldn’t have said that.”
He laughs again. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”
Happy to hear this, I release a sigh. “All right. I lo—” I stop myself, having almost dropped a bomb on him without even realizing I might feel this way. I try to laugh it off. “See you soon.”
With the countdown officially on, I hop out of bed, get dressed, fix the blankets, and then try to decide what to do. Daphne will be here around one, so I’ve definitely got some time to kill. Remembering I have a little bit of homework I could get a head start on, I sweep my hair up onto the top of my head haphazardly, and then grab my books from my room. I don’t feel like being cooped up in the house for the next hour, so I take my books out to the pool, and sit in one of the lounge chairs that’s bathed in sunlight.
It’s difficult to focus at first, but soon I’m wrapped up in my report, and time flies by. I get stuck toward the end of the assignment, tapping the eraser of my pencil against my textbook in hopes of knocking loose my block. I let my eyes drift out to the desert, and then I get the distinct feeling that I’m being watched.
Slowly, I turn around, almost certain I know whom it is. He’s still in the house, just behind the sliding patio window. I want to act cool, but my attempt is futile; I drop my books on the ground, my assignment momentarily forgotten, and I rush toward him. He opens the door and steps through, meeting me on the patio and pulling me into his arms. He peppers my cheek, jaw, and eventually lips with kisses, and I laugh.
“Why didn’t you call?” I inquire, his lips moving down my neck.
I feel his lips curl into a smile against my shoulder. “I think a better question is why aren’t you waiting for me upstairs?”