A shiver ran through my body. Blinking twice at the phone screen, I hastily replied, “N-no. You aren’t. Wh-what’s up?” I placed my book safely beside me and panicked at where to put my free hand. As he asked me about the rest of my day, my mind went into autopilot as I imagined his plump lips close to my ear speaking to me. Somehow, I managed to answer his questions.

I couldn’t stop my mind from drifting. Recalling his muscular hand above my head holding the door open for me. My body warmed all over. I snapped back to reality as I heard his husky laugh booming through the phone. “Are you sure I didn’t call at a bad time? You seem distracted.”

If only he knew that he was the cause of my distraction. Shaking my head, I shook the lewd thoughts. Wrapping my towel around me I hurriedly answered, “No, sorry. Just getting out of the tub.” There was a slight pause at the other end of the phone before he added, “No worries, take your time.” I thought I heard a slight change in his voice, but I couldn’t place what it was. 

Slipping into my pajamas, my mind raced thinking of what he was wearing in bed. I shook my head violently at the thought of asking him. I needed to get control of myself. I barely knew the guy and just his voice alone had me thinking things I hadn’t since my last relationship. 

We spent the rest of the night on the phone. It was so easy talking to him. We playfully argued about the best snacks, movies, movie snacks, pasta sauce, etc. I felt like a teenager, giggling and smiling as I twirled my kinky curls around and around. I tried to hide a yawn as I checked my clock, one a.m. flashed back at me. We had already been on the phone for three hours. 

“I can’t believe we’ve been on the phone for so long. I haven’t talked this long on the phone in ages. Maybe since high school?” 

“I agree. It is getting late though. Maybe we should call it and maybe grab drinks later?”

We ended the call with a few more giggles and I laid in bed with my phone on my chest. How could I be so comfortable on the phone with a stranger for hours? As I went to plug my phone in, my screen lit up with a notification, Drinks at 6pm? My cheeks burned from my dopey smile. I went to reply back and instead gathered the confidence to call him again. 

“Missed me already?”

I laughed, “Actually, I figured we should probably exchange names at some point?” 

That husky laugh returned, “You’re right. Theo. You?”

“Mel.”