Page 43 of Josephine and Clay

Clay: Alright. Pick a version.

Josie: The one from my cottage.

The room seems to go quieter around me.

Clay: Yeah?

Josie: Yes.

Clay: Then what?

Her typing starts and stops twice before the message finally comes through.

Josie: I’d probably tell you to stop looking so pleased with yourself.

Clay: I’d ignore that.

Josie: I know.

Clay: Then?

Another pause.

Josie: Then I’d kiss you just to make you shut up.

My grip tightens on the phone.

Clay: You’d have to do better than that.

Josie: That sounds like a challenge.

Clay: Maybe it is.

A full minute passes this time. Long enough that I sit up a little more. Long enough that I can picture her chewing the inside of her cheek, deciding whether to stay careful or not.

Then my phone lights.

Josie: Then I’d climb into your lap and see if that finally did it.

I let out a rough breath and smile into the dark.

There she is.

Clay: Better.

Josie: Don’t sound so satisfied.

Clay: Too late.

Josie: You’re a menace.

Clay: And you’re in my lap. What happens next?

Her answer comes quicker now.

Josie: You tell me.

Clay: I’d put my hands on your hips.