Page 57 of Range
I lifted my body from the floor, unable to suppress the urges forming in the pit of my stomach. The phone slid from the bed as if it had been waiting for this very moment. I slid my fingers across the keys, remembering the number without difficulty.
Selfishly, I didn’t consider the time. Neither did I consider the consequences of my actions. Or maybe I didn’t care. I couldn’t be sure.
The Chemist.
As the phone rang, I was reminded of the person responsible for the connection.
My mentor.
A man who’d taken me under his wing and expanded my horizon beyond my imagination. He opened doors. Established connections. Quietly whispered my name in crowded spaces. Pushed me to the limits. Helped me understand the honor that accompanied a chemist.
I didn’t request a helping hand. Still, he provided it. By the time my ass hit the flattened mattress my first night in, he was on the line of the cell phone I sandwiched between my mattress daily.
“Hello?”
There it was. There she was.
Sunshine.
Even in the dark, she illuminated me.Internally. Externally.
Her voice was soothing. I cringed at the way my lips rose in the corners, forming a smile. I quickly deadened it. With a straight face, I listened to the rumbling in her background. She was changing locations. She was putting distance between her and something else. Someone else. I could hear her bare feet against the floor. Wood, most likely.
Her footsteps halted. A door closed behind her. The seat of a toilet slammed. She released a fresh stream of air before opening her mouth to speak again.
Unfortunately, words didn’t find her. So, she remained silent. I followed suit, trying to understand my reason for calling and wondering why I was at a loss of words as well.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Every second felt like another lifetime. Still, it wasn’t enough time. I doubted it would ever be.
“Calling isn’t healthy. Neither is it wise. I’ve mistaken you for a wise man.”
“It won’t be your last mistake,” I replied.
“These calls are putting my license at stake.”
“Almost everything you do puts your license at stake,Sunshine.”
“My name is R–”
“Don’t answer the phone if you’re uninterested. It’s simple.”
She sighed. I smiled. Again, noticing she hadn’t ended the call yet. I doubted she would. As long as I was talking, Range was listening.
“What is it that you need, Josiah?”
“You.”
There was no need to deny my immediate desire.Necessity. It wasn’t oxygen or a steady heartbeat. It was her.
Silence.
I’d lost her again. She was still computing and I was ready to move on to the next subject. Because I understood she’d need time, I accepted my loss.
“Goodnight, Range.”
I ended the call, leaving us both with our thoughts.
FOUR
