Shit, are you actually sleeping? Or just not speaking to me?
I wanted to laugh. Or throw my phone, but I couldn't decide which. I was still kinda upset with him, but I also liked that he was willing to reach out to me even though he knew I was mad.
I'm not asleep. Just unable to move. And, yes, I'm still mad at u for the incident that shall not be named.
A few seconds later, my phone rang.
I very nearly ignored it because, while I wasn't as angry as I'd been earlier, I wasn't lying when I said I was still a little upset. Finally, with a sigh, I hit the green button on the screen and lifted it to my ear.
"Why are you calling me if you know I'm upset with you?" I asked.
"I had to know why you can't move," he said, his voice low and rough. "And I wanted to tell you I'm sorry again."
I shivered. He sounded a little sleepy and a whole lot sexy.
"I replaced Cam at work today, ran for my life from an overweight raccoon, played tug-of-war with a guy over some trash bags, and my whole body hurts. I don't know how she does this every day. Not to mention I walked in on your brother sticking his tongue down her throat when I got home."
Ben chuckled in my ear. The sound went a long way to dampening my annoyance. Damn, why did he have to be so, so...hot? Friends. We were just friends. If I had to, I would repeat it like a mantra for the next few weeks.
"For what it's worth, I am sorry about all of that, too."
I grunted at him, which made him chuckle again.
"Worked you into the ground, huh?" he asked, changing the subject.
Smart man.
"For my day job, I usually spend most of my working hours on my ass, which is good because I'm discovering that's what I prefer." Okay, that was a partial lie because I really did like working with Cam. She was a terrific co-worker. She didn't expect me to do ninety percent of the work and she wasn't moody or inconsiderate. Definitely five out of five stars in terms of colleague ratings.
Ben laughed again. "So you're lying in bed?" he asked.
Fuck. Me. Now all I could think of was if he was lying in bed. Naked.
Mad? Who was mad? Because I wasn't anymore.
"Yep. If I hadn't made it in here, I'd be on the living room floor. You already in bed?"
"Yeah, but I can't sleep." He paused. "So, what are you wearing?"
I could hear the smile in his voice and knew he was teasing me, even though I half wished he wasn't. "Listen, I don't do pervy phone calls, mister, so if that's what you're after, call a nine-hundred number." I waited a beat before I threw in. "But first tell me what you're wearing."
He laughed. Just like I meant for him to. God, I liked making him laugh. And I was glad that he liked my sense of humor. I'd had both male friends and quite a few dates who remained blank-faced when I cracked a joke.
"I will if you will," he shot back.
I glanced down at my towel and decided not to mention it. Instead, I described what I intended to put on just as soon as I had the energy. "Ugh, fine. I'm wearing a huge t-shirt."
"And?"
"Uh, underwear. Enormous white granny panties."
He chuckled again but didn't say anything.
I waited a second. "Well?"
"I'm saying nothing because that's what I'm wearing."
I laughed but I also bit my knuckle. Ben wearing nothing was an amazing sight and I hated that I was missing it. Dammit, why was he torturing me like this?
"Okay, now that we've established that I'm an old maid who wears muumuus and granny panties, why can't you sleep?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.
"I have a problem."
I frowned. "A problem? At work?"
He cleared his throat. "It's more of a personal problem."
I didn't get it, so I asked, "Is it something I can help with?"
"It depends."
Why was he being so evasive? "On what?"
"If you're willing to tell me more about the ink on your arm."
I huffed out a laugh. "Give it up. I'm a fortress."
He sighed. "Okay, then maybe you can help me with the other problem I have but it also depends on your feelings."
I couldn't help myself. I grinned. There was no telling what he was going to say next. "What feelings should I consider?"