I shake my head, even though he can’t see me.
“I was wondering if you could be with the children tonight. I know it’s not in the agreement, although I don’t feel like there’s any real agreement between us.”
“There isn’t.”
“And I understand that you probably have your own agenda.”
“I think I can do it.”
“R-really?”
“I’ll be there, at home. I don’t see why not.”
“Oh God, you are my saviour!”
“Let’s not exaggerate.”
“You don’t know how much everything you do means to me.”
“Don’t think about it.”
“You are… You are a good person… a truly special one.”
I wish I didn’t feel that tingle in the pit of my stomach. I wish I didn’t feel his words pass through me, leaving their emotional mark. But it seems I have no control over myself when it comes to Seth.
Another problem. Huge. And not just for me.
“Can I count on you?”
“I’ll be home by 6 p.m. Is that OK?”
“Mr Yang will be with them until 5 p.m. I can ask Mason…”
“Maybe I can get out earlier.”
“I could never ask so much of you…”
“You’re not asking me.” I take a moment to process what the hell I’m doing. “I’ll be home by 5 p.m.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“I’ll try to be back as soon as I can. And try not to make any noise. The bed is all yours tonight.”
A few more seconds to metabolise the word bed as he said it, in that barely mischievous tone, and that barely held breath.
“OK.”
“I’ll leave you to your work.”
“And I to your day.”
“See you tonight.”
“See you.”
Seth ends the call. I stay for a few more moments with the phone in my fingers, pressed to my ear as if I needed to hear his voice in full.
