A Simple Wish About love - Karice Bolton Page 0,44
He looked at the smiling face on the other end and answered the video call.
“Hey, what are you up to?” she asked.
Slade grinned and flipped his phone around so she could see what he was watching.
“You watch the Housewives?” Her mouth hung open.
“Is that what it’s called?” Slade laughed. “I don’t know many housewives who hang out on yachts all day.”
“Don’t play like you don’t watch it on the reg,” Erika teased.
She seemed back to her normal, carefree self.
He wanted to ask how she was doing, but he was almost afraid to find out.
So, he just went in for the kill. He’d know one way or another if last night meant anything.
“I miss you.” Three simple words were all he said.
She sucked on her bottom lip before smiling. “I miss you too.”
Slade flashed a coy smile. “Is that only because I’m in Colorado or because of last night?”
Erika chuckled. “Both.”
She stood from her bed and walked over to her bedroom door and closed it softly.
“I’m sorry I was so all over the place when you were here.” She frowned. “I just didn’t expect to sleep with you, and my feelings were all over the place, and—”
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s okay to be confused.” Slade grinned. “I have that effect on women.”
Erika smiled. “Why does that not surprise me?”
Slade pretended to bat his lashes.
Erika laughed. “You’re such a cornball.”
He could tell she really did miss him, and the way she looked at him with her heated gaze and the longing to match his own told him there just might be hope. He might get Erika to agree to being more than friends.
It could turn into a process, but it was worth the wait.
“Don’t kill me,” Erika began, and Slade turned down the show on the television. The women were back to screaming again.
“That doesn’t sound good.” He stood and wandered over to the kitchen and opened up seltzer water.
“I know this is completely unprofessional, and I don’t want you to think I called only for this, but . . .” Her voice trailed off, and she sat up straighter in bed.
“This can’t be good.”
“Is there any possible way you could get Miranda Cherry to give my son an autograph?”
Slade stared at Erika as she shifted on her bed and looked completely uncomfortable. He could toy with her a bit, make her fidget even more, but he was generally a nice guy.
“I could see if that could happen.”
Erika let out a happy sigh. “Oh, thank you. Some of the guys started ribbing him at school about not having a dad. It’s never come up before, and it really got him down. Usually, he’s the kid with all the friends piled into my family room, but I can tell the teasing took a toll.”
“Wow. That’s shitty.” Slade shook his head. “Kids can be so mean.”
“I’m surprised by it, really.” Erika nodded. “The kids are usually so nice. He got home from the camping trip with Jeremy and unloaded. I guess it happened on Friday. He didn’t tell me all weekend, which just kills me. I thought something like this might make the boys shut up.”
“Nothing like a pretty girl to make boys close their mouths.” Slade shook his head. “I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise anything.”
“No, I know. I just appreciate the effort at this point.”
Slade nodded and took a swig of water. “Sure thing.”
“I had a really nice time this weekend,” she said softly.
“I did too.” He propped the phone on the coffee table in front of him. “But it makes me wonder if you’ve thought any more about everything.”
“Everything?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“About us.” He smiled. “Is there even an us?”
“Well, we’re on the phone.” She grinned.
“Yeah. We’ve been doing that for a while now, but I don’t know if you remember.” He laughed and shook his head. “We did something that kind of changed the trajectory if we wanted.”
She smiled and nodded. “Oh, I remember. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop.”
“Me too.”
Erika pushed back some of her auburn hair and repositioned the phone’s camera. “I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
Slade laughed. “Off to a good start already.”
She chuckled.
“I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I can’t run away from the fact that with you, everything feels different. Maybe it’s because I’m older.” She shrugged. “Or maybe it’s just you.”
Slade grinned. “I’d like to think it’s just me.”
“Me too.” Erika laughed. “I can’t hide from feelings forever. At some point, I’m going