Page 64 of I'm Your Guy
I compose an email with my top three picks. The hotel Wi-Fi barely functions, so I end up ditching my laptop and sending a text instead.
I lean back against the headboard and try to drowse. Someone is yelling drunkenly in the parking lot. Loudly. I can’t make out the words, but there’s violence in them.
Dear Lord in heaven, I pray. If this is a test, I hope to pass. But maybe this is a hint that I need to go home to Montana and regroup.
Is that it?
Hmm.
I know you’re under no obligation to give me what I want. Or to make it easy. But I am a little confused. I’m listening. I will accept what’s coming to me. But if you want me to buckle down and try a little harder, just send me a sign.
I open my eyes, and my phone rings.
TWENTY-THREE
Tommaso
Oh, for fuck’s sake. I can’t believe I did it again. I was trying to click through the link Carter sent me. But I guess my big finger hit that little video button.
I hear the chiming sound of a video call connecting, and suddenly Carter and I are blinking at each other in the dark, each of us illuminated only by the light of our phones.
But it’s enough. For the first time in a week, I see those calm blue eyes and drink him in.
“Hi,” he says. “What are you doing up?”
“Uh, sorry.” I put a hand over my face. “I was trying to click on one of the blankets you sent me, and I…”
“Called me instead?” His eyes twinkle.
“Seems so. Yup.”
A tentative smile blooms on his irresistible face, and somehow it fills all the empty spaces inside my chest. “Doesn’t matter. I was up, too.”
“I appreciate the blanket research. I’d never heard of this thing before now. But my sister insists it’s the right gift.”
He shrugs. “People swear by them. I haven’t tried one. Never had any trouble sleeping until lately.”
“You too, huh?”
He frowns. “Look, I know I’m not supposed to ask. But are you okay? Last time we saw each other, you seemed a little strung out.”
I scrub a hand over my face again. “I’ll survive. Did you ever have a time when you just can’t seem to get right with the world? Like everything you try is wrong?”
“Yup. That sounds pretty familiar.” Carter starts to say more, but then he startles like he’s heard a loud noise, and he focuses on something beyond his phone.
“Everything okay? Where are you?” He’s leaning against an unfamiliar headboard. “Did you find a new place?”
“I’m, um, staying with friends,” he says. “But this isn’t a great neighborhood. The street noise keeps me on edge.”
Oh hell. He’s up late, because he’s scared. “Is the door locked nice and tight?”
“Sure is!” he says quickly. “No problems there.”
“Well, good. We should both put our phones down and try to sleep. But let me just say one thing.”
“What?” he asks, tipping his head to look right at me. “I’m listening. Sleep is overrated.”
“I gave two different teammates your contact information this week. They’ll probably just hand it over to their wives, but you might get a call.”
