Page 21 of Set My Soul Ablaze

It had been weeks since the fire. Why now? Why, when I’ve finally returned to normalcy, would someone throw these threats at me?

In my haze, I tapped on the screen absentmindedly. My first thought was to send the screenshot to Joylei, but I didn’t have the energy to talk her down from going full FBI at the moment. Not right now, at least. I wanted to enjoy my week before I added a new stressor onto my plate. Instead, I hovered over Artez’s contact.

Should I call him?

No. It was too soon to bother the man with my wild life. I hadn’t spoken to him since the tour at the station. What would I look like coming to him with my problems right now? Plus, it was so late in the evening, he was probably busy. I didn’t know his work schedule or what his personal life looked like. I couldn’t be a nuisance to him. I couldn’t?—

“Hello?”

I yelped in surprise. I looked down at the phone and realized I’d called Artez during my inner turmoil episode. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to call you out of the blue. I probably should have texted you first. You’re probably so busy and I?—”

“Mali,” he interrupted me in a tone as soft as a feather.

“Hmm?”

“Take a deep breath for me.”

Instinctively, I followed directions. I inhaled.

One Mississippi.

Two Mississippi.

Three Mississippi.

I exhaled.

“Good job. Hi, beautiful.”

“Hi.”

“How are you?”

“I don’t even know how I am right now.”

“What’s going on?” The concern in his voice sent a warm and fuzzy feeling through my body.

“I contemplated calling you. I didn’t know if you were at work, if you were busy with your family, or what. I’m sorry if this isn’t a good time.” Once again, my mouth moved with no real direction from my brain.

“It’s all good. I told you to call me whenever, no matter the time of day.”

“You know some people say stuff like that but never actually want to be bothered.”

He chuckled. The sound calmed my nerves. “You’ll find out I’m a man of my word. I say what I mean and I mean what I say.”

“Oop. I know that’s right. What are you doing?”

“I’m in my room, chilling. I was flipping through some videos trying to find something to watch.”

“Twins. I was watching a cat compilation video until I got a weird text.”

“What did the text say, if you don’t mind me asking?”

I bit down on my bottom lip as I contemplated what to say. I didn’t see the need to lie to Flame when he’d made me feel safe and secure since the moment we met. My lungs filled with air before I replied.

“I’ll just send you the screenshot for you to see yourself. Not really in the mood to repeat what it said out loud.”

“That’s fine.”