Page 80 of Play With Me

“Uh,” I said out loud, uselessly.

Has cracked one eye open. “What?”

“I think,” I said slowly, “Will is FaceTiming us.”

Has sat up and leaned back on his elbows. “Like… video?”

“Yes,” I said. “He must have gotten a new phone.”

“Answer!” Has was laughing at me.

The phone buzzed again.

“Okay! Shit!” I said, accepting the call.

For half a second, all I saw was a ceiling fan spinning lazily. Then the angle shifted.

“Oh—hang on,” Will’s voice said, slightly tinny. “I don’t⁠—‘’

His face appeared, off-center and too close, then pulled back as he figured it out. He looked… different. Softer, somehow. Clean t-shirt, hair still damp, like he’d just showered.

There was a pause.

We both smiled at the same time.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi,” I said, my voice doing that stupid thing where it got warmer without asking permission.

“Is this… working?” he asked.

“I can see you,” I said.

“Good,” he said, relieved.

I shifted the phone slightly and realized I was grinning like an idiot.

“Merry Christmas, Lou,” he said.

“Merry Christmas, Will.”

“Merry Christmas, Louisa!” I heard the girls off-camera before Maeve’s face appeared over Will’s shoulder. “Merry Christmas, lovie,” she said, eyes crinkling.

“Merry Christmas, Maeve!” I said.

Behind me, Vivian whispered loudly, “Oh this is cute,” and Has harrumphed like an old man.

Will laughed. “Are you with your people?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Vivian’s cooking. Has is terrorizing her dog.” I tilted the phone so he could see.

“Hi, Has.”

Has leaned into the frame. “Hey, man. Nice phone.”

Will smiled, a little sheepish. “Yeah. My sisters got it for me.”

“That tracks,” Has said. “Welcome to the future.”