She felt her heart swell with the compliment, though she knew it shouldn’t. Phone sex and hot hotel sex were hardly a relationship. She pushed the hope away and quipped, “That’s sort of like cuddling, isn’t it?”
He let out a low laugh, and she heard him moving around. “Considering that I just came all over myself while listening to you come, I might admit to that.”
“I’ve never done that before.”
“I’ve seen you come, remember?” he teased.
“You know what I mean.” She smiled as she went into the bathroom to clean up. “Phone sex,” she said in a hushed tone.
“Me either.”
She stopped cold. “Oh, please. You were too confident, too comfortable with it.”
He laughed again, and it was a sound she was growing to like. A lot.
“Seriously. I haven’t. And I didn’t call to have phone sex with you. I called to hear your voice, but…”
“So you’ve never had phone sex before?” She sounded accusatory and hated herself for it.
“Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?”
Yes. “No.” This is so messed up. How can I be jealous of a guy I’m not even dating?
“Allyson, there’s one thing you should know about me. I never lie.”
She rolled her eyes. As if she hadn’t heard that too many times before to count. “You’re a man. By default you lie.”
“Ouch. That’s a harsh generalization for a guy you just had phone sex with.”
She smiled. “Sorry. I guess it is, but that’s been my experience.”
“That’s too bad, sweetheart. But not all guys lie.”
“Okay, let’s not kill the mood.” She leaned against the wall, not wanting to talk about her cheating exes. The last two guys she’d dated had both cheated on her, which was what had led her to more casual dating, if she could even call it dating. How hard was it to break up instead of cheating? She’d never understand that mentality.
“I don’t like knowing that you’ve had a bad experience in the past.” The sincerity in his voice sent her sliding down the wall and sitting on the floor.
“Haven’t we all had them?”
He was silent for a long moment. “Yes, I suppose we have.”
“So, I guess girls suck, too.”
“Not all, I hope,” he answered.
She heard him opening up, and she wondered how much information he might share. “Living life on a hope and a prayer now, Heath?”
He sighed. “Aren’t we all?”
“Who was she?” She closed her eyes, knowing he’d probably shut her down.
Silence filled the airwaves. She opened her mouth to say good night just as he answered.
“A woman I dated in college.” He blew out a breath. “I caught her in bed with a buddy of mine. Well, a guy I thought was a buddy.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, the last two guys I dated both cheated on me. I’m starting to think that monogamous relationships are for the birds.” Fifi rubbed against her side, and she lifted her into her lap.
“Maybe. Although, my brother Logan met a woman, and they’re happy.”
She wondered if he realized he’d revealed another piece of personal information.
“That’s good,” she said. “So maybe there is hope for mankind.” She lifted Fifi and kissed her head.
“Who’re you kissing?”
“You heard that?”
“Yes. I hear every breath you take.”
She leaned her head back against the wall as his words washed over her.
“Fifi,” she answered.
“A loyal friend.”
She smiled. “That she is. I found her in Central Park when she was just a baby. She was skin and bones. She’s blind, and the most loving pet I’ve ever had.”
“Central Park?” His voice grew serious. “Are you in New York?”
“Am I allowed to answer that?”
“Allyson, I asked; you can answer.”
“Does that mean if I ask, you have to answer?”
He sighed. “I didn’t say you had to answer. I said you could answer.”
“Hm…” She toyed with him.
“Ally, do you live in New York?”
“Heath? Where do you live?”
He didn’t answer.
She wasn’t about to play this one-sided game, and she had no idea why it bothered her after what she’d just done with him. Maybe that was why. Or maybe it was her sister’s voice ringing in her ears about putting herself down.
“This has been fun, but I have to go. Good night, Heath.” Ally didn’t wait for him to respond. She ended the call and blew out a breath, then lifted Fifi up and looked into her unsighted eyes. “Well, Fifi. I guess that’s over. I deserve more than silence.”
She took a warm shower, and when she came out, the message light on her phone was blinking. She read the text from Heath. I live in the city. Good night, Allison.
She wondered if he meant New York City, or if he was being vague. She smiled as she typed her response.
I live in a city, too. And it’s Allyson. Good night, Heath.
Chapter Five