Page 97 of Wilds of the Heart
“No. I’m not.”
“And none of that would have happened if you hadn’t accepted this residency.” I could hear the smile in his voice, and it lifted me up and gave me the energy I needed. “I’m so proud of you, Emily.”
I felt like I was floating on clouds. “I miss you.”
“I miss you more.”
“I doubt it.”
“No, I’m pretty certain of it. Unlike you, I have painfully suffered through eight long days and nights without you. I have no hot, young stud named Ethan to take me out for dinner and drinks while shoving poetry in my face at breakfast.”
I chuckled. “I just want you to know that neither of those things is happening consecutively.”
“I believe you.”
“I know you do.” I laughed. “But just for context, I want you to close your eyes.”
“Oooh, I like where this is going,” he said, laughing.
“And picture a lanky guy who looks like he’s still a junior in high school with high tops, a shirt that hasn’t been washed for weeks, if not longer, and greasy hair that he slicks back with his own spit. That, my love, is Ethan.”
“You lost me at high tops,” Lucas said, laughing. “And here I thought we were on to something.”
I smiled at the thought and closed my eyes. “I’d be down, if you were.”
“Oh, yeah.” His voice lowered into the velvety goodness I loved and I let out a happy sigh.
“Then let’s make a date. You, me, the phone, and ten o’clock my time.”
“Wear something sexy,” Lucas said.
“How about nothing at all?” I teased.
He groaned into the phone and let out a deep breath. “This is going to be a rough afternoon.”
“Glad I could do my part to keep you interested,” I teased.
“You don’t have to work hard at that,” he promised. “But I was wondering when I could come out there for a visit…” His voice trailed off.
“Did you still want to try to make it to a reading?”
“Absolutely.”
“My first one is coming up in two weeks.”
“That will be three weeks without you. This is torture.” He cleared his throat. “But worth every second.”
“I am learning a lot about technique and realizing how little I know.”
“You know enough to be good. You have a voice that’s unique enough to capture the attention of complete strangers. To me, that’s plenty.”
“You always know how to make me feel amazing.”
“That’s my job, babe.”
I yawned into the phone on accident, and he let out a low laugh. “Do you have any classes or workshops this afternoon?”
“No. I finally have a few hours off.” I groaned. “That is until Ethan comes back to pick me up for dinner.”