“Hey, girl,” I said as I laced up my running shoes.
“Hey. I just wanted to check in, and A, see how the showing went today. And B, ask about hot Cal. Did you guys talk?”
“I called him on my drive home.”
“You called him?” she shrieked, sounding outraged. “No, he needs to call you. Why, Jules? Why would you do that?”
Rolling my eyes at her melodrama, I said tentatively, “Because he asked me to call him after I got off work,” wondering what the hell I’d done wrong in the land of Tam.
“Oh, thank God. That changes everything. Remember, he pursues you, Jules, and not the other way around.”
I giggled as she laid down the law to me as if she were some sort of relationship expert. She wasn’t and I damn well knew it, but I decided to play along.
“What about texting?”
“What about it?”
“Am I allowed to text him first?” I tried to stifle another laugh as I waited for her response.
“You’re laughing, Jules, but this is serious. Texting depends.”
“On what?”
“I don’t know! Who texted first today?”
I bit my lower lip as I remembered waking up this morning to a text from him. “He did. I woke up to a message that read good morning, beautiful.”
“Ah shit. Text him anytime you want. Have his babies. Do it now,” she said, doing a one-eighty so fast my head was spinning.
“You’re horrible at this,” I said, no longer holding back my laugh. “I have to go.”
“Wait! What about the house?”
My laughter turned into an annoyed groan. “They didn’t like it. It wasn’t grand enough. I have to find them more options.”
“That sucks. I’m sorry. When you do finally find them something grand enough,” she said in a British accent, “we’ll go out and celebrate.”
“I can’t wait. Seriously. How’s work for you?” I asked, knowing she’d gloss over her day, as usual.
As a lawyer, Tami wasn’t allowed to talk about the specifics of her cases until they were settled. I knew today would be no exception, but didn’t want her to think I wasn’t interested in her day.
“You know—same old, same old. Sell that house so we can go out and party!”
“I don’t have to sell a house in order for us to go out,” I reminded her.
“I know, but it’s more fun when we act like we’re only out because we’re celebrating something. The guys love it.”
“You’re seriously crazy, but I love you anyway. Talk to you later.”
I pressed End, wondering for the millionth time how I’d gotten so lucky in the best-friend department. Tami was a certain kind of crazy, but she always had my best interest at heart, and I knew I could count on her.
Teamwork
Jules
Waking up to a text message that read good morning, beautiful every day for the past few weeks had become a welcome routine. Although, really, how could something so sweet ever get old? Knowing that Cal had gone out of his way to make sure I had a message from him when I woke up each morning made me feel special and wanted.
The funny thing was, I sort of did the same thing for him. Every night before I went to bed, I sent him a text telling him good night, wanting him to know that he was the last person I thought of before I went to sleep.