I’m smiling so big, my cheeks hurt.
Oh man, Josh is laughing his ass off like I’ve just said the funniest thing in the world. “Fun guy,” he finally chokes out. “Oh yeah, you’re having a blast, Party Girl.” He laughs again. “No wonder you’re talking to me instead of sitting with him. You couldn’t get away from him fast enough.”
“A guy doesn’t have to drink to be fun. I think it’s awesome Cameron doesn’t drink—it shows he’s got discipline.”
“Pfft,” Josh scoffs. “No, you don’t think it’s awesome. You were mortified when he told you, admit it.”
I audibly shrug. He’s right, of course. But wild horses couldn’tmake me admit that to him right now. “Why don’t we just see each other tomorrow night?” I purr.
Josh exhales. “I can’t. I’m headed to New York tomorrow on the early flight on business. And then I gotta be in LA for a couple days on a deal. I won’t be able to get back to Seattle for at least a week.”
I make an “oh well” sound. In all honesty, I’m wildly disappointed, but I’m not gonna let him know that. “Well, then, I guess we’ll be seeing each other in a week or so,” I say primly. “If ever.”
He makes an exasperated noise.
“Assuming you’ve sent me your application to The Club by then, of course,” I add. “Since that’s a required prerequisite of me going out with you.”
He makes a scoffing sound.
I ignore him. “Oh,andassuming I’m not impregnated by Cameron Schulz by then—which is entirely possible.”
Josh makes a caveman roar that shocks the hell out of me. “Fuck this, Kat!” he booms. “Tell that boring, sober motherfucker to fuck off right now. I mean it. No more bullshit. I’m coming to get you. Tell me where you are.”
I can only imagine how shocked my face looks right now. I must look like that emoji with wide eyes. I didn’t expect that kind of volcanic reaction. Jeez. It came out of nowhere. He always seems so laid back. I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
“Are you there?” Josh barks.
“Yeah.”
“Enough with the bullshit, Kat. Playtime’s over. You don’t wanna be with Cameron Fucking Schulz tonight and you know it. You wanna be withme.Now tell me where you are because I’m coming to get you.”
Kerzoinks, as Sarah would say. Sounds like he’s got something of a jealous streak. Ha! Well, he’s in for a rude awakening. Because Kat Morgan doesn’t do jealous-boyfriend bullshit. Ever. Wait. What am I thinking? Josh isn’t even my boyfriend! We’re not even dating! Why would he think, even for a minute, he’s in any position to tell me what to do?
“Hmm,” I say calmly, like he just asked me for directions to the nearest gas station. “I don’t think so, Playboy. Caveman shit doesn’t really work with me, you ought to know.”
He’s either fuming or coming on the other end of the line—I’m not sure which. By the noise he just made, it could be either.
“You know whatIthink’s gonna happen right now? I’m gonna hang up the phone and go back into the restaurant and have a nice meal with a very sweet guy who politely asked me out to a very nice restaurant, and rescheduledtwicedespite his very busy schedule,and who’s treated me with nothing but respect all night long—and who, it turns out, happens to be the starting shortstop for the Mariners. Who knew?”
Josh makes another raging caveman noise. “Kat. I’m not kidding. Stop fucking around and tell him—”
“So I guess I’ll see you soon, whenever you’re in Seattle next—ifI’m not already desperately in love with Cameron Schulz and carrying his love child by then.”
“Kat.”
“What?”
“Fuck.”
I don’t reply.
“Come on,” he says. “Stop it.”
He’s clearly used to getting whatever he wants, when he wants it.
“Travel safe, Josh. I really do hope to see you soon.”
“Kat.”
