My smile fades and I sit up, curling my knees beneath me.His parents’ birthdays. Goddammit. I forgot.
“What happened? Was it awful?” I can’t believe I never called him to check in. “I should have called yesterday.”
“Why? You’re calling now. And it actually went well. It was wonderful seeing them again. Laughing with them. My mom’s smile never left her face.”
“That’s great, but…”There has to be a but.
“But I had to leave. And you’d swear I was taking their happiness with me. Robbing them of everything they had.”
“Oh, Reed.”
“I’m okay, I promise. That’s not why I wanted to talk. At least, not the only reason.”
“God, what else was Inotthere for?”Why am I in Texas?
Reed chuckles and the sound of it runs through me. I never imagined I’d miss that sound, but God, I love his laugh.
“You’re where you should be, Hayls. Exactly where you should be. I just miss you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. But it’s not long now—”
“I wish you were here,” I cut in, the words flying out of my mouth. “I wish you were here, right now, sitting next to me instead of on the other end of the line. And not just today. I’ve imagined opening my door to you so many times…” I trail off and when silence fills the air, I panic. Did I say the wrong thing? Too much? “Reed, I—”
“Fuck, I want that too.” He sighs and…thank God.
I release a breath and smile. “Like you said. Not long now. I—”
“Wait.” He cuts me off before pausing for a second, and I swear he says “fuck it” under his breath. “I’m coming to Texas.”
“What?” My eyes widen in disbelief. “Don’t you have preseason training and practice?”
“It’s not official yet. Training camp doesn’t start for another couple of weeks. I can spare the weekend. I’ve been killing it in the gym. Working my ass off. My girlfriend’s away, so I’ve had plenty of time to dedicate to football. What else am I supposed to do with myself?”
I snort when his voice comes out a littlewoe is me. “Oh, poor Reedy boy. You should be used to this. You haven’t had a girlfriend duringanyother season of your career, right?”
“Well aware, Hayley Baby. But I had Bria. And just like you, she took up most of my spare time.”
My smile fades upon hearing her name, but I don’t let it get to me, keeping the conversation on us. “You love it when I do that.”
“I do. I’m not ashamed to admit it.”
My heart jumps as my chest tightens. “Don’t tease me about Texas. Please.”
“I’m not.”
“Really?”
“I’m booking my flights as we speak. Can you hear me typing?” He must put the phone down near a keyboard because sure enough, I hear the keys. Only no one can type that quickly, so he’s undoubtedly pressing a bunch of random buttons. He’s not booking anything.
“Done,” he lies, unconvincingly. “I’ll send you the details in a little bit.”
“You’re hilarious. What you really mean is that you’ll send me the details when you’ve actually booked your flights?”
“Busted. Yes. I’ll do it when we get off the phone.”
“You’re really coming?”
