Isabella
Sorry about your loss tonight
You’ll get them tomorrow
I’m about to roll over to plug my phone in when it starts to ring in my hand. With a video call. You’re kidding me. A video call? I’m literally in bed, without makeup or anything, and I don’t know why he’s doing this. I watch it ring and so nearly don’t pick up, but my curiosity gets the better of me.
I swipe to answer.
Fletch’s face fills the screen, his hair damp from what I assume is his post-game shower, the ends starting to curl as they dry. There are dark smudges under his eyes highlighting his exhaustion. And yet, he’s still wearing the biggest smile on his face.
My whole body heats at seeing him like this. Fingers itching to run through the wet strands.
“Um, hi?” I say tentatively, the words coming out as more of a question. Looking at myself in the little camera preview in the corner you can definitely tell I’m in bed, even with the soft lighting provided by the bedside lamp. I sink down further, hoping I can hide the fact from him, but I doubt it.
“You picked up!” he exclaims.
“I almost didn’t… is there a reason you’re video calling me?” I ask.
“I figured you missed my face.” He winks and I raise an eyebrow. “Okay, okay. That’s not true.Imissedyourface.”
“I—” I start, but I don’t really know where to go with that, so I kind of freeze up.
“Relax, firecracker. I meant it in a friendly way, not flirty. I needed some cheering up after that loss, and Coach ripped us to shreds.” He moves through what looks like his hotel room as he talks, something that’s confirmed for me when he falls backwards onto a bed.
“Oh, that’s okay, I guess. The loss was pretty brutal.”
“You’re telling me! We played like absolute garbage tonight. I think we got too cocky after the win yesterday.” He sighs.
“You guys weren’tthatbad,” I try.
“That’s quite the honor coming from someone who up until three weeks ago knew nothing about the sport,” he says with a smirk. “I take it you watched the game again?”
I chew on the corner of my lip but give him a nod.
His entire face brightens in response. “I like knowing you’re watching the games. Even if you don’t know what’s going on. I think that fact alone makes it more special.”
I roll my eyes. “I figure I gotta show my support for the team I’m working with right now.”
“Mhmm, sure. Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep better at night, firecracker.” He winks and I’m so glad it’s dimly lit on my end because I can feel the heat of a blush climbing up my cheeks and my core pulses in response.Why does this keep happening around him?“Speaking of which, are you about to go to sleep? Am I bothering you? We can hang up if I am. I’m sorry, I forget that you don’t operate on the same hours as me every day.”
I would think he was saying that to be nice, but the uncertainty on his face tells me he really is concerned he’s keeping me awake. And I mean, yes, I was getting ready for bed, so I don’t know what makes me do it, but I tell him, “Nah, I was doomscrolling.”
His smile is small, but instantaneous. “Okay, good. So long as I’m not keeping you up.”
“You’re fine, Fletch.”
“Cool, cool. Ready for your next question then?”
I sigh, but smile. “Sure, hit me.”
“What’s your perfect date?” he asks, and I choke on air.
“Excuse me?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
He holds up his free hand. “Hey now, I mean this as a perfectly innocent ask. It’s to get to know your interests better. Not because I’m secretly planning our first date. Although this answer won’t hurt in that case.”
I roll my eyes and think about how I want to answer this question, when it comes to me. “Hmm, I’d have to say April 25th.”