Page 22 of No, You Hang Up

“Fuck you,” I murmur, unable to think of anything else.

“Sure, we can do that next time. Though you did wake up a bit last night,”he’s quick to inform me. “You just don’t really remember it thanks to, you know, being drugged and all. Gives a bit of amnesia after it kicks in. Actually, it’s used for surgeries, and?—”

“I woke up?” I can’t help the curiosity in my voice as I interrupt him, and I roll over to face my ceiling. “But I don’t…”

“Remember, yeah. Do we need to go over the side effects of sedatives? We can do that. But you did wake up a few times, actually.”He pauses, like he’s waiting for me to ask.

And fuck, I’m absolutely going to ask.

“What did I say? Or do? Please tell me I tried to off you and almost succeeded.”

He snorts, like that’s not quite what he expected. “No, sorry to tell you. You absolutely did not try to kill me. You did beg, though. And I don’t normally make promises, but I broke my rule last night and promised not to kill you, so you’d fuckin’ relax.”

I have no idea how to feel about that, or what to say, or how to respond. I stare at the ceiling and wish to God I’d wake up from this weird dream. “Oh,” I murmur at last.

“That’s it? Oh?”

“Well, what else do you want?” I snap, finally getting some of my attitude back. “A thoughtfully written thank you note? A review on yourYelpbusiness page?”

He laughs full out at that, surprising me at the warmth of the sound. “How’d you get my number, little bunny?”Huxley asks with one last chuckle. “I’m just curious. You said it was your friend, right?”

I’m not sure I like the way this is going, and I bite my lip. “Why? Is she going to be your next late-night target to educate on the uses of Midazolam?”

“Oh, you remember. I’m proud of you. And no. You’re the only one I’m interested in like that. Call me curious.”

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

“Then I’ll just have to come over and satisfy myself with you again to bring myself back. That’s how the saying goes, right? Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back.”

For a few moments, I don’t reply. I drum my fingers on my stomach and try not to think about the feeling of his hand splayed there. “You, uh, gave it to a bartender,” I say finally. “She kept it, wanting to call you back.”

“I did?”He sounds bewildered. “Why would I—Oh!”It sounds like realization hits him like a baseball bat. “The annoying blonde! Yeah, I remember. I was going to off her whenever she called, actually.” He says it so casually that it’s unnerving, and my chest tightens.

“I’d kind of like it if you didn’t.”

“Why? You know her?”

“Not personally.”

“Six degrees of separation kind of thing?”

“She’s my friend’s friend. It would really put a crimp in our plans if you kill her. Do I seem like the kind of friend who’s good at being supportive through my own emotional needs?”

His chuckle is clear over the phone. “Well, no. You seem like you’d throw someone in front of a bus to keep yourself from getting killed, if I’m being honest.”

“Fair. So you won’t kill her?”

“I’ll consider it if you play along. What are you wearing, Kai?”

I roll my eyes, then close them with a sigh. “Oh no, is this you attempting phone sex with me? I’m wearing leggings and a t-shirt. It’s an old band tee. I never listened to them, and it’s really faded, but there’s a neon unicorn on the front so?—”

“You’re so bad at this.”But he sounds amused rather than upset. “Have you never talked dirty on the phone before?”

“Yeah, I’m definitely not going to impart tales of my sexual experiences to you over the phone, in person, or via a carrier pigeon.”

“Fine. I’m adaptable. What’s your favorite scary movie?”

“Oh, we’re crossing genres now? No more shitty romance, we’ve moved to slasher horror? Let me just pop some popcorn. I don’t have a boyfriend for you to tie up by the pool, though. And I also don’t have a pool.”

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