"Hi. How did it go today?"
"Alright. How was your day?"
"Just alright?"
"It was a bunch of sweaty guys trying to impress the men in suits," he said lightly. "Think of watching a practice session, but this one's in a huge stadium and not that interesting unless you know what's supposed to be happening."
"It doesn't sound very fun."
"It's not," he said. "It's work."
"But you're having a good time?"
"Good enough, I guess. It's good to hear you." I smiled.
"It's good to hear from you, too. I was a little scared you wouldn't be able to get in touch."
"I said that I would," he said simply. I couldn't imagine what he was describing very well, but I knew it was a big deal. It made me feel special that he wanted to keep in contact with me when he was so busy.
"What about the city? Is it nice?"
"Oh, you'd love Houston," he said.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. If you weren't in class I would have asked you to come with me." I took a deep breath.
"Maybe next time?" I said hopefully.
"Yeah...maybe next time." I smiled at that. It wasn't a promise or anything, but it was the way we always talked in the past about the places we wanted to see together. "I can't wait to get back. I fly in Friday. What are you doing then?"
"I don't have anything planned. Why? Do you need a ride from the airport?"
"No," he laughed, "I want to take you out."
"The night you get back? Won't you be tired?"
"Are you blowing me off, Ron?" I could hear the smile in his voice.
"No. I'm excited to have you back. I'm sort of mad I let you go."
"Four more days. You can last that long, can't you?"
"Just because I can doesn't mean I want to," I said. "I got spoiled having you back in town again."
"I'll make it up to you, starting with dinner when I get back." I'm going to need more than just dinner, I thought. I hadn't expected to miss him so much. I had just had breakfast with him yesterday morning and here I was, wishing I wasn't falling asleep alone tonight.
"I'm looking forward to it," I told him. I wanted to tell him that I loved him, but it scared me. I wasn't sure that I should have been ,and I didn't know whether I was allowed to feel safe being that vulnerable. Years together before we split said that I could, but I just wasn't ready yet. If I said I loved him, it meant I was letting him back in, all the way.
"I'm going to miss you," I said quietly, giving him that since I couldn't say the other thing.
"I'm going to miss you, too. I'll call you tomorrow."
"I'd like that," I said, smiling. We said goodnight, and I ended the call. When would it end? Would I stop feeling like this was new and exciting again? I loved the routines and comfort we used to have, but part of me didn't want this dating and discovery phase to end. I put my phone away and got ready to fall asleep. The phone call had been just what I needed.
.
Chapter Twenty Five