Page 69 of 'Til All the Seas Run Dry

“The O’Positives!” Robbie answered before snorting again, the sound of his laughter contagious.

“Alright,” Callum said with a smile. “That one was good.”

“Yes!” Robbie crowed. “Okay, boss. I’m going to bed. I’ve had a long night being everyone’s waking fantasy.”

Callum chuckled. “Fair enough. Thank you for talking me down.”

“You’re welcome, Cal. What are friends for? So you’re gonna call her?”

“I’m going to text her.”

“Chicken.”

“Perhaps. But I’m only afraid of her.”

“Don’t be. She’s a big softy.”

Callum smiled at that.

“What’s a vampire’s favorite ice cream flavor?” Callum asked.

“Vampires can’t eat ice cream, and we both—ooooh,” Robbie drawled out. “I don’t know!”

“Vein-illa.”

Robbie guffawed once loudly, which made Callum smile even more broadly.

“Goddamn. That’s a good one. Okay. Goodnight, Cal. Call Jory.”

Robbie hung up without waiting for a reply. Callum sat on the side of the bed, holding his phone in his hand and staring at the screen. He could do this. He could call her. He used to fight actual battles—wars—for gods’ sake. He used to fight against three men at a time. He’d survived nearly a thousand years. He could call her. He could. He would. He?—

His phone buzzed in his hand, and the notification showed a text from Jory.

Did you get in to San Francisco okay?

Callum’s grin nearly split his face.

Aye. You’re up early.

His phone buzzed again, and Jory’s name flashed brightly as an incoming call. His thumb shook over the button as he swiped to answer.

“Hello, Jory,” he said, his voice cracking at the end of her name.

“Hey,” she said softly.

“’Tis early.”

“It is,” she agreed.

“I was just debating whether to call you.”

“Debating?”

“I wasnae sure if you wanted me to.”

She was quiet on the other end of the line. “I wanted you to.”

He could hear her breathing softly through the phone and wondered how eerily silent it sounded on her end. He was tempted to sigh, just to contribute to the ambient sound.