Tibbs wouldn’t use the number at least one time.
“We already established you’re awesome and he’s going to fall madly in love with you,” Miller yawned, suppressing a grin. “Not sure Tibbs is the only one who likes getting that ego boost, Ricci. Sounds to me like you guys would make a perfect pair.”
“Oh please, I’m nothing like Tibbs. NOTHING. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll take that back.” The threat had barely settled when my phone lit up with an incoming call.
Like the devil had been summoned, I had no doubt of the identity of the unknown number.
Tibbs.
Unless that Saudi Prince was calling me back, offering me another chance at forty-two million if I’d just give him my bank details. But I’d say the smart bet was on the fireman probably still on duty in Midtown.
“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Miller gameshow waved his hand at my buzzing phone. “Wouldn’t want him to think you were dodging his calls.”
Rolling my eyes, I swiped the incoming call and lifted the phone to my ear. “Hello,” I said curtly, wondering if he’d literally been waiting until I was done with work, or he called everyone at ridiculous o’clock in the morning.
“Ricci,” he cooed into the phone, his voice thick like he’d been sleeping. “Do you always sound so pissed off on the phone or is that venom just reserved for me? Got to tell you, if you’re trying to turn me on, it’s working.”
Wow.
Really, Tessa?
This was what I wanted?
So apparently I was attracted to guys with God complexes who got off on my distaste. And here I thought he was the one with the problem.
“What do you want, Tibbs? A bedtime story?” I breathed into the phone. “Or did you think I’d be in bed by now, hoping I’d tell you I was naked between my sheets and dreaming about you.”
He coughed, clearing his throat. “Fuck, Tessa. You have to warn a guy before you say something like that. At least let me get somewhere private where I can enjoy it.”
“I’m not in bed, or naked, or dreaming of you, Tibbs,” I yawned, purposely ignoring how much I liked hearing him say my name. It wasn’t the first time, but somehow it felt a little different. “But I am hungry and tired, so if you were looking for cheerful, you’re gonna be shit out of luck.”
“Not looking for anything other than to check your schedule. Figured I’d catch you before you went to sleep. I know how insane your days can be, especially when you have to head into work later.”
Unlike the FDNY, who worked twenty-four on, forty-eight off, NYPD worked eight-hour shifts, five days straight. And depending on which rotation you were on, that workday didn’t always land during regular business hours. Currently Miller and I were rocking the four to twelve. Which meant mornings were usually a flurry of getting laundry done, groceries, working out, dealing with regular everyday shit, and then going to work when most people were heading home.
Factor in sleep, and downtime was limited. It also meant catching up with friends or dating was also left for those two prized days off, whenever they landed. Guess my schedule and constant rotations probably hadn’t helped my love life either.
It was surprisingly more considerate than I’d expected, my eyes narrowing as I waited for the extra sexual innuendo or whatever Tibbs usually added.
“And?” I asked between the pause.
“And?” Tibbs chuckled. “And what? I said you could pick the place and activity so the and is pretty much on you. Unless you want me to take the lead, Ricci, and then I can do that.”
Still nothing.
Almost as if it were just a regular guy asking me on a regular date, which couldn’t be right because there was nothing regular about Tibbs.
Miller’s gaze flicked to me, only hearing one side of the conversation and trying to piece it together with limited information and my animated reaction. “What?” he whispered, waving his hand as I sat in stunned silence.
“Justin.” His name felt weird in my mouth, unsure if I’d ever called him that. “I know we’ve both been having fun with this, but are you seriously asking me out?”
It was unlike me to call the time-out, not liking how exposed it made me feel. For all I knew, he was going to laugh his ass off, the, “Jesus, Ricci, you really thought I was serious?” ready in his mouth. But I was tired, and confused, and completely lost