Page 19 of The Heart Shot
“That logic will definitely hold up in a court of law.”
A snort came through the phone. “Sometimes Elsie needs a loving push.” She cleared her throat suggestively. “Much like you.”
“Maya…”
“Just don’t do anything stupid,” she ordered.
“What do you think I’m going to do with it?” I retorted. “Prank call her?”
“You better not, or so help me, Jam-Jam.”
I rolled my eyes again, both at her false threat and that incessant nickname.
“I would think my cousin would know that I’m not a heartless guy that uses women.”
She exhaled, the phone crackling from the force of it. “Yeah, I know. She’s just…it’s been a hard few years for her. Elsie’s determined to stay single for the rest of her life, but that’s terrible because she’s so amazing. Someone needs to cherish her.”
“And you think I’m that person?” I deadpanned.
“I don’t know,” she replied honestly. “But I think you both deserve the chance to find out.”
A beat of silence filled the space as her words settled.
“Besides, you didn’t see the chemistry between you two. It was…quite intense,” she said.
I tried not to groan, digging my fingers into Luna’s fur and giving her a neck scratch instead. “We were posing for the camera.”
Maya laughed. “Okay, Jam-Jam. Keep telling yourself that.”
It was my turn to sigh. “You do realize that I was pretending for the sake of your stupid photoshoot. Whatever you think you saw was fake. I really wish you’d stop meddling with my love life.”
I pictured Maya putting her hands on her hips and scowling at me as she said, “I know what fake looks like, Jameson. That wasn’t it.”
“You’re delusional.”
“Mmhmm. Well, we’ll see if you stick to that tune once you call her.”
The thought of calling Elsie, of seeing her again, made my stomach squeeze. This was ridiculous. I only just met her and didn’t know anything about her.Besides, she’d made it clear that she didn’t want to spend unnecessary time with me. Her face had been quite obvious when Maya had suggested going to Get In My Belly.
“What makes you think I’m going to call her, Maya?”
I swear I could hear her smile through the phone. “Deny it all you want, but I saw the way you two looked at each other. I felt like I needed a cold shower after that shoot.”
“Maybe you were just overheated from the sun.”
She growled. “You stupid man, just call her. You can thank me later.”
“I’m promising nothing,” I bit out.
I must not have kept my voice neutral enough because Maya let out a maniacal laugh before crooning, “Bye Jam-Jam.”
Elsie
Agentle breeze blew through my living room window, filling the house with my favorite smell: fall. Some people thought the smell of damp ground, falling leaves, and that distinct smell of cold air was musty and gross, but I loved it. It was a sign of the seasons turning, of endings and beginnings, and it was the best time of year. I only wished I could have been outside, enjoying the weather, rather than stuck inside working. I was spread out at my kitchen peninsula, and it had been a long day of researching and writing the strangest blog post I’d ever been hired to write—an article I titledFlatulence as a Method of Self-Defense.
I truly didn’t know whether to laugh or be greatly disturbed.
My phone buzzed on the counter next to me, and I was so deep in thought on how to make this articlenot weirdthat I didn’t think twice before picking it up and shoving it between my ear and shoulder.
