Page 112 of The Sweetest Return

“That was not funny,” I said.

“It was a little funny.”

“Goodbye.”

“Nah, wait.”

His laughter faded, but I could still hear it in his breathing. Another sound came through his end, a vibration or alert, and then his tone changed.

“Damn.”

“What?”

“I got another call I need to take.”

“Business?”

A short pause came before he answered. “Something I need to handle.”

I heard enough in his voice to know not to press.

“Okay.”

“Eleven-thirty.”

“I heard you.”

“Get some more sleep.”

“You’re the one who woke me up.”

“And I’d do it again.”

My lips curved. “Clearly.”

“Mani.”

“What?”

The softness in his voice returned. “I’m glad you answered.”

I closed my eyes.

There he was again, getting underneath everything.

“I am too.”

Neither of us said anything for a second, and I took a breath because if I let the silence stretch too long, I might say something neither of us was ready to hold before noon.

“I’m hanging up now.”

“See you downstairs.”

“Bye, Dre.”

“Bye, baby.”

The call ended before I could decide what to do with that.