“There’s no way your voice belongs to a little old lady. But fine, if you won’t tell me what you’re wearing, how about I tell you? Nothing but my lucky boxers, which seems fitting.”
“How does it seem fitting?”
“I’m talking to you, aren’t I?”
She smiled, even though she told herself not to. Man, this guy was shameless. Oddly enough, it made her want to respond in the same fashion.
“That got you, didn’t it?” he asked. “Straight to the heart.”
“No way,” she lied.
He tsked. “Telling lies is a sin. I know I have a gift, especially when it comes to the ladies.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re a cocky SOB, aren’t you?”
“If by SOB, you mean sexually omnipotent boy. I am, for sure.”
“Or a boy with sexually offensive behavior,” Keeley countered.
“You know, you might want to rethink insulting the person who has your phone. Let’s see, who can I prank call at one in the morning?” His voice sounded muffled. “Hmmm … Nana? Uncle Tom? Cousin Louise?”
That was a bold move. He wouldn’t dare … would he? “Don’t forget, I have your phone, too,” she threatened.
“If you want to prank call people, be my guest. I’ll even give you a list. Start with Marlene Baker. The girl refuses to leave me alone.”
“I don’t see why,” she retorted. “I’ve been on the phone with you for five minutes and I have no desire to repeat the experience.”
“Be nice, baby doll, or else,” he warned.
“Or else what? And don’t call me that.”
“Then what should I call you?”
She hesitated. She knew nothing about this guy.
“Scared?” he asked. “I’ll tell you my name if you tell me yours.”
“I’m not scared,” she protested. “Just cautious. You could be a serial killer or something. I don’t even know how old you are.”
“I’m in high school. How about you?”
“Same. I …”
When it was clear she wasn’t going to say more, he pointed out, “We’re going to meet anyway to switch back our phones. What’s the big deal?”
“You go first.”
He sighed. “You always this difficult?”
“Now who’s the one avoiding the question?”
A beat passed. Then another. “I’m Talon.”
“That’s unusual,” she commented, not recognizing it. She wanted to ask for his last name, but then he would want to know hers, and when people in this town heard Brewer, they thought of Zach. As soon as they learned she was related to him, they launched into what a great player he was and asked a million questions about his plans for the future. It sucked that the most interesting thing about her was her brother.
“I told you mine. Now, what’s yours?” he asked, ignoring her comment. “And don’t think you can get out of it.”
She wavered, still unsure about giving a complete stranger her name.
“Come on. Just tell me.”
She swallowed. “It’s Keeley.”
He repeated her name under his breath. “It suits you.”
She frowned. “How so?”
“It’s a beautiful name for a beautiful voice,” he declared. He sounded like a character out of a soap opera — dramatic and completely fake.
“Please stop. That’s so lame.”
“It’s not lame,” he grumbled, his voice back to normal.
“Beautiful name for a beautiful voice,” she mocked.
“I don’t sound like that. My voice is deeper, more masculine,” he protested. “I — Hey! What’s with the laughing?” But Keeley was too far gone to respond. “I’m going to hang up if you don’t stop,” he threatened.
“Wait, wait!” Keeley managed to say as she got her laughter under control. “I have a question.”
“No, you don’t. I’m going.”
“I’m serious. I have a question.”
“What?”
“Does that line” — she giggled, not being able to hold it back — “actually work?”
“Will you stop?!”
“Are you one of those guys who hits on girls at a shopping mall and uses lines like” — she deepened her voice — “‘Do you come here often, baby?’”
Silence.
“Oh my God, you are!”
Talon didn’t even bother responding as he hung up, leaving her with silence. She’d call him tomorrow and get her phone back. As she lay down, a little part of her wondered what he’d be like in person.
The next morning, Keeley woke to a shouting match between Zach and her parents. She sat on the second-floor landing, which overlooked the living room, and watched it all unfold. Zach, in the same clothes from yesterday, was on the couch with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. Her mother was on a nearby chair, shaking her head in disappointment, while her father paced the living room.
“You could have gotten yourself killed!” her father roared.
“Dad —”
“What were you thinking?!” His face was blotchy and red.
“Dad —”
“Obviously you weren’t, were you? You put yourself and everybody else on the road in danger!”
Zach slapped a hand against the suede armrest. “I said I was sorry. And I got home fine. Nothing bad happened!”
And everyone says he’s the smart one in the family, Keeley thought.
Her father’s face was purple now, his voice low and even. Somehow that was scarier than the yelling. “You’re grounded for the next month. You can’t leave the house except to go to practice.”
Zach leapt to his feet. “You can’t do that! I’m captain of the team. I’m supposed to help the incoming freshmen —”
“Then you should have thought of that before drinking and driving!”
So that’s what the fight was about. Why didn’t he call her?
“Mom, please,” Zach begged. “Talk to him.”
“I agree with your father. It’s bad enough you were drinking, but to drive? You should be grateful we’re letting you play football.”
For a second, Zach looked like he was going to argue, but he shut his mouth and stalked up the stairs. He came to an abrupt halt when he caught sight of Keeley. “It’s all your fault!” he hissed so their parents couldn’t hear.
“What did I do?”
“You know exactly what. I thought we had each other’s backs. Guess I was wrong, twin.”
The resentment in his voice made her stand. “I should be the one pissed off. What were you thinking?”
“What choice did I have? I was out past curfew. If Mom and Dad found out, they would have grounded me.”
“You call me. You don’t get behind the wheel.”
“Are you serious? I call and text for an hour, and when I finally get through, you hang up on me.”
He was full of crap. “Lie to Mom and Dad all you want, but don’t lie to me. You probably wanted to impress that girl and —”
He shoved his phone in her face. Her name was displayed on every line of the call log, the time stamped between two and three a.m. Guilt hit her full force. “Zach, I —”
“Forget it,” he scoffed and brushed past.
If something bad happened to him …