Page 25 of Let Me

“I’m doing.”

“Did you work today?”

“I did for a few hours this morning.I met some interesting people.”

“Oh yeah?”

“I did.”

“Tell me about it,” I say.

“Can I do that in person?”

I smile and say, “Oh, that was slick.I like how you slid that right on in there.”

“It would be a better conversation in person.In fact, I was initially calling to invite you to lunch with me tomorrow if—”

“Yes!”

He grins.“You didn’t let me finish.”

“You don’t have to.Tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”

“Lake Julian Park.”

“There are no places to eat out there at the lake.”

“I know.I’m going to attempt to pack a picnic basket.I got everything I needed when I was at the store today.”

“Aw—that means you’ve been thinking about this all day.”

“I have.Anyway, I’ll let you get back to whatever you’re doing.”

“I’m at my friend Riley’s house playing Uno.”

“This is what you usually do on Friday nights?”

“I mix it up a bit.Riley likes to go out sometimes, but she knows I’m a homebody.She likes the nightlife, you know.I’d rather be on the sofa watching a good movie.”

“I like that, too.”

“Stop lying, Judah.You’d rather be in the woods.”

“That, too.Hey…Autumn.”

“Yes?”

“Save my number in your phone.”

“I did already.I saved it under Judah with the ice cream cone emoji.”

“Seriously?”

“I told you I was going to do it.”

He grins and says, “Okay.Meet me tomorrow at ten.”

“Ten a.m.?”

---