For a few seconds, she doesn’t speak. It’s after midnight. She’s probably wondering if I’m serious.

I am.

Then she huffs, “Fine. I’ll stay on the phone. Do you actually have a reason for calling, or do you just want to annoy me—more?”

I tell her the bare, honest truth. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”

Not too long ago, I could stop by Kate’s office whenever I wanted. I could talk to her. Look at her. Listen to her.

I miss that. A lot.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Working.”

“Me too. Kind of. What are you working on?”

“A proposal for a new client. Jeffrey Davies.”

“The millionaire? Isn’t he…like, crazy?”

“He’s very eccentric, yes.”

I heard he’s a f**king nutcase. Like one of those Trekkie fanatics who know the Klingon language or surgically alter their ears to look like Mr. Spock.

“What’s he interested in?”

“Technology. Life-prolonging scientific research, to be exact.”

Her voice is comfortable now. Normal. Almost friendly.

“I have some contacts in cryogenics. I could hook you up. We should discuss it over dinner on Saturday.”

“Are you trying to bribe me?”

“Would you prefer breakfast? Lunch works for me too.”

At this point, I’d settle for a light midday snack.

She snorts. It’s not a laugh, but it’s close. “Let it go, Drew.”

I smirk even though she can’t see it. “Not going to happen. I can keep this up forever. I have amazing stamina—but then you already know that.”

“Do I have to hang up again?”

I whine, “No. I’ll be good.”

I turn on my side. My apartment is dim and still. It feels…intimate. Like one of those late-night conversations you had in high school under the covers because you weren’t supposed to still be on the phone.

“So what are you doing for Christmas?”

There’s a smile in her voice when she answers. “My mom’s coming to visit. Dee-Dee’s is too, so we’re all going out together for Christmas dinner. And then my lease is up next month, so I plan on doing some apartment hunting while Mom’s here. I’m hoping New York will impress her. Maybe I’ll find a place that will entice her to stay.”

“What about Warren? Is he still staying with Delores?”

Don’t want any sneak attacks, now do we?

The edge is back in her tone as she tells me, “Not that it’s any of your business, but Billy moved to LA three days ago.”

Well, doesn’t that just make me want to stand up and do the happy dance on my dining room table?

“Do you guys still…talk?”

“He’s going to email me once he’s settled. Let me know how things are going.”

“Kate…what happened between you two, that day in your office?”

I should have had the balls to listen to her that day. I should have asked her this question then. At the time I thought it’d be easier to pretend I didn’t care than to hear her say she didn’t.

I was wrong.

She sounds sad when she answers. And weary. “We talked, Drew. I told him that I loved him, that a part of me always would. I said that I knew he loved me too. But that we weren’t…in love anymore. Not the way we were supposed to be…not for a long time. It took a while, but eventually Billy agreed with me. And—” she blows out an annoyed breath “—I don’t even know why I’m telling you any of this.”

We’re both quiet for a moment. And then I just can’t help myself.

“I’m in love with you, Kate.”

She’s silent. She doesn’t respond at all.

And my chest tightens because I know why.

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

“I think you’re an excellent liar when you want to be, Drew.”

Ouch. So this is what it feels like to sleep in the bed you made, huh? It sucks.

But my voice is firm. Determined and un-fucking-wavering. “I’m not lying to you now, Kate. But it’s okay. Do what you need to do. Curse me out, slap me around—get it all out of your system. I can take it. Because the more you push me away, the harder I’m going to fight to prove to you that this is real. That I’m not going anywhere and that what I feel for you isn’t going to change. And then someday—maybe not any time soon, but one day—I’m going to tell you that you, Kate Brooks, are the love of my life, and you won’t have any doubt that it’s true.”

After a minute, Kate clears her throat. “I should go. It’s late. And I have a lot of work to finish.”

“Yeah. Okay. Me too.”

“Good night, Drew.”

I grin. “It could have been. But you’re across town.”

She laughs then. It’s quick and muffled, but it’s genuine. And I’m pretty sure it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard.

“Sweet dreams, Kate. You know, the ones with you and me in them. Naked.”

Click.

Chapter 23

THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME in a rookie pitcher’s career isn’t his debut. It’s his follow-up. The second showing. He has to prove that he’s consistent. Reliable.

Today is my follow-up game. The day I show Kate she’s not getting rid of me and that I’m one hell of a clutch player. I’ve started with something simple. Elegant. Something less in-your-face than the Three Man Band. After all, you don’t always need to drop a nuke to win the war.