Page 90 of Moonstruck at Midnight
“Don’t you mean, good afternoon?” Joel said with a chuckle. William stood up, kissed my cheeks, and went inside the house.Where are you going?
“What time is it?” I asked. Since my phone was dead, I was clueless. I hadn’t brought my watch.
“It’s just a bit past noon,” Lily replied.What? I was impressed Caleb hadn’t gone inside the house looking for me, trying to make sure I was still alive.
William came out a couple of minutes later with a plate in one hand and a small white box in the other. “Food. Phone. Coffee?” he asked, placing the hot plate with eggs and pancakes and a brand-new iPhone on the table in front of me.
I widened my eyes at the phone.Is this for me?
“Um—yes, please.” I needed coffee. Urgently. I wasn’t planning on eating. All I wanted was to leave—after having my cup of coffee, of course. William disappeared inside the house once again.
He had managed to keep throwing hooks at me to prolong my stay.
Call Aaron after having a warm bath in my cozy guest bedroom—you’re freezing!
No clothes?Wear my t-shirt. It smells delicious,and it will make you think of me,but that’s okay because I planned it that way.
Sit.You need to eat the delicious pasta I made from scratch.
Wait.It’s late.Sleep in my comfy bed after I’ve serenaded and kissed you—a few times.
You can’t leave yet!You need coffee.Food.And a brand-new phone.
William came back with my coffee, and I lifted the box with a grimace. “What’s this?” I knew he bought it for me, but it was too much. I intended to find out the cost so I could pay him back.
“You kept asking for my phone last night. It seems to me like you urgently needed a replacement. Your food’s getting cold,” he replied, gesturing to start eating.
I groaned to myself in protest. “But what about my number, my contacts—”
“It’s been taken care of,” he said, sipping on his coffee. “Your SIM card’s been installed on the new phone. Same number, company, everything.”
I asked for a receipt, and he laughed. “You’re crazy if you think I’m taking your money. Your Blackberry wouldn’t turn on, I tried. I looked at your old SIM card and went to the AT&T store that’s three minutes away from here. No big deal.”
He wanted to make it seem like it was nothing to grab my old phone, investigate the company, go to the nearest store, buy a new one and transfer everything into itbeforeI woke up so I wouldn’t object and could start using it right away—no big deal.
“I was very fond of my Blackberry,” I replied. I guess I was going to have to get used to the new phone.
“Well, I’m pretty sure you were one of the last people on Earth who owned one.”
I tried not to laugh, but he was probably right. “Please let me pay for it. It would make me feel more comfortable,” I insisted.
“When have I passed on the opportunity to make you feel uncomfortable?” He teased. I guess he was right. It was his specialty.
I closed my eyes and touched my temples for a second as my head’s throbbing sensation came and went for small instances. “Headache?” Joel asked.
“You have no idea.”
“Let me get you some ibuprofen.”
“If you eat, you’ll feel better. Trust me,” William insisted. I started to eat some eggs because I was sure he had plenty of experience with hangovers.
“Here you go,” Joel said, placing the medicine bottle beside my coffee. “Take two of those.”
“Thanks, Joel.” I smiled. “Do you know at what time these guys arrived?” I asked William as I opened the bottle and took two pills as Joel instructed.
“I woke up somewhere around nine, and they were already outside. I went up to talk to them to let them know you were still asleep. They wanted to know if you were okay.”
“They’re making me nervous,” I said, looking over my shoulder. Caleb was looking at me, and he didn’t mind looking away. But I did.
