Page 77 of The Problem with Princes
“I’m not going anywhere, Sweet Cheese.”
I grin. “Glad to hear it Twelve kids.” As far as nicknames goes, it needs help, I know. But I’m just winging it here.
Ty chuckles. “I’m not sure about that one.”
“Yeah, I was just workshopping it.”
He’s quiet. “What does that mean?”
“Oh, here in the states it’s really popular to put new ideas before groups of people to gage how successful or popular they’ll be. It’s call workshopping.”
“Ah, I see.”
Some jokes just don’t translate well. Or maybe it just wasn’t really a joke. I don’t know. But I’m not going to take the time to analyze it right now.
“I like hearing your voice,” he says.
I put a hand to my earbud ear so I can hear his voice a little clearer. “Yeah, I like hearing yours too.” I sigh. “And seeing you.”
“So what’s wrong? Why are you so sad.” His voice lowers. “Is that why you won’t let me see you?”
I chuckle but it sounds forced. “Who says I’m sad?”
“Your voice.”
I settle into the couch and pull my legs up underneath me, holding my phone up close. Holy Hannah, I miss him. Which is utterly ridiculous. But I can’t help it.
“Besides, you said it wasn’t a good day.”
“Yeah, well, today was fine. I was being melodramatic.” That is true. Today was fine. It was yesterday that was an utter dumpster fire. But he doesn’t need to know that.
“I don’t think you’re telling me everything. I thought you trusted me.”
Trust. That was the word of the week, wasn’t it? But do I trust him with this? I’m afraid he will just go off half-cocked and only make things worse. “I trust you. I just worry that you might do something dumb.”
“Dumb? When have I ever done anything dumb?” He sounds fake offended.
“Well, you did insist we play the MASH game. So…” I smile down at him even though he can’t see me.
“Don’t call my future dumb.” He chuckles. “Besides, I think it might be real. Look, I’ve done it ten more times, and every time it picked you.” He holds up a bunch of sheets of paper.
“Well, it will if you put my name in the same place every time and use the same number.”
He shakes his head. “I changed it up every time. New number, new placement. We’re just destined to be together.”
“Now who’s the weirdo? Me or the man who’s taking his cues from a little girl’s game?”
We both fall quiet.
Finally, he sucks in a breath. “I can’t force you to tell me, Grace. And I won’t go to Texie. But I really wish you’d tell me what’s wrong.”
I bite my cheek. I can see his cute brow all furrowed and serious.
He will be the death of me. “Okay. But you have to promise you won’t try to fix anything.”
I stare into the phone, and I hear him breathing. Not like creepy breathing, just contemplative breathing. “Fine. I won’t try to fix it.”
“No fixing in any way. I want principle of the law here. Not letter of the law.”
