Indulgent Pleasures

He was a quiet for a moment, as if her statement shocked him. “I’ve missed you, too.”

He sounded cautious, as if he didn’t quite want to admit that.

And she hated that cautiousness. Beat herself up all over again at being the one to cause that unease in him.

“How’s it going with your new job? I saw you on TV a couple of nights ago.”

“Ah hell, you did? How’d I do? Be honest. It’s been crazy, hard work actually. I never knew how difficult it was to stand in front of a camera and talk. They all make it look easy.” He sounded so full of doubt, so worried about the impression he made and she found it endearing.

“You were wonderful.” He had been. So handsome, so composed, talking to the other players with ease as if he’d been interviewing since the day he was born. They’d opened up to him, laughing and joking within seconds of starting the interviews and she’d marveled at how he made it look so easy.

“You’re just saying that.”

“No, I mean it. You were great.”

“Well, thanks. I know I could use some polish but I’m trying. That’s all I can do right?”

“Right,” she laughed, loving the sound of his voice, wishing that he was closer, with her.

She wanted him with a fierceness that overwhelmed her.

“Where are you?”

“I’m in New York. I’ll be here through the weekend.”

“Ooh, I’m jealous. I’ve never been to New York.”

“You should come see me.”

“I should,” she agreed, meaning it.

“You want to? I’d fly you in on Friday and send you home on Sunday so you could be back in time for work.”

Excitement bubbled up inside her. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.” His voice lowered, reminding her of how he sounded when he whispered to her in bed. “I miss you. I want you here with me. I have to work Saturday afternoon but I could get you into the game. That is, if you want to go.”

“I’d love to go. That sounds great. And Justin?”

“Yeah?”

“I’d like to—talk to you. Regarding what we talked about before you left.”

“Really?” Hope lit his voice.

“Definitely. I think I made a mistake.”

“You did? How so?”

“Well, couldn’t we talk about it this weekend?” She didn’t want to tell him this over the phone. She’d rather say it face to face.

“I don’t think I can wait till the weekend, Stephanie. I want to hear what you have to say now.” He sounded nervous and she knew if he’d said something similar, she’d worry the entire time until she actually saw him.

She sighed, pausing to gather the courage. “When you talked to me before, you caught me unaware and I was scared. I didn’t know how to answer you so I tried to put you off and I’m sorry.”

“Yeah?” Goodness, he wasn’t making this easy.

Not that she could blame him.