Page 333 of Safe With You

Some part of me was still living by rules I learned while loving him.

My phone buzzed in my hand.

I looked down.

Ellis: You home yet?

I stared at the message.

Then laughed softly.

Of course.

I typed back.

Still at the store. Just locked up.

His response came almost immediately.

By yourself?

I smiled.

Naomi left earlier.

Three dots appeared.

Call me when you leave.

There were a dozen ways I could answer.

Why?

I’m fine.

You don’t have to wait up.

Instead, I typed the simplest one.

Okay.

Lucas asked about me yesterday. Ellis asked me to call when I left tonight.

One of those things would’ve meant everything to me five years ago. The other meant more to me now.

Maybe that was all I needed to know.

I put my phone down and finished closing.

It took another fifteen minutes to count the register, make sure everything was where it needed to be for tomorrow, and check the back door twice even though I knew I locked it the first time. By the time I switched off the last light and stepped outside, most of the businesses along the block had already gone dark.

I locked the door behind me and started toward my car.

My phone was halfway out of my bag before I remembered I told Ellis I’d call.

Or maybe I hadn’t forgotten at all.

I tapped his name.