“I’m sorry, Rachel,” I told her. “I really hate to say goodnight, but I have an early shift tomorrow.”

“Of course,” she agreed. “I should have realized… I’m sorry to have kept you up.”

“Please don’t apologize, I had a blast.”

I don’t know how I knew it, but I knew she was smiling on the other line. “Can I call you again in a few days?” I asked.

“Call me anytime you want,” Rachel replied. “Goodnight, Jared.”

“Goodnight, Rachel.”

I hung up and stared at my ceiling for a long time, wondering how on earth I was going to be able to sleep when I felt so wired. I could feel excitement coursing through my veins, and it amazed me that a conversation with a girl could have that effect on me.

Forty minutes later, when I finally managed to calm down enough to go to sleep, dreams filled my consciousness like back-to-back movies. And, all of them featured Rachel.