"Hey there yourself," she replied cheerfully. "How're you doin'?"
"Ain't no sunshine when you're gone," he sang in his baritone.
She sucked her teeth. "You are so funny."
"I'm so serious," Peter confessed. "It's been what… two months? I miss you." He lived right down the road from her, but between his work schedule and her hours at the gym, it wasn't as if he could just drop in on her."
"It hasn't been two months."
"Just about. I know. I've been counting the Sundays and Wednesdays."
"That's what I'm calling about," she said. "Can you come over when you get a chance? I want to talk to you about something."
It was Friday night. She wouldn't be going in to work tomorrow. "How about I come over after work?"
Emille snorted. She actually snorted at him. "Don't you know, Peter? Casual arrangements between midnight and four are booty calls."
He laughed out loud at that. "So, you're calling me for some booty?" he asked provocatively.
"I'm calling you to arrange a conversation," she said levelly.
Still, he could imagine the expression on her face - that tightlipped way she tried to not smile. It was what kept a smile on his face. He'd missed this. An unhappy woman was a miserable thing. Not that Emille was miserable, or made him miserable. Just, when she wasn't happy, the part of him that wanted her laughing all the time was… well, that part of him was miserable. Truth be told, he felt like he'd just come up from a long dive.
"It just so happens that you're most alert during the booty call hours. And I did not ask you to come by during said hours. You offered."
"Well, darlin'," he drawled flirtatiously, "you're just gonna have to take me when you can get me. I won't have any free time for the next couple of weeks."
"You're fishing this Sunday?" she asked.
"Leave the porch light on. I'll be there in about an hour," he told her, avoiding her question. The restaurant was almost cleaned and closed.
"I can meet you out on the boat on-"
"I'll be there in an hour," he said. He was excited at the prospect of seeing her for the 'first' time since she'd begun working out.
"Be where?"
"Beware? Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why should I beware?"
"I was asking where you planned to be." This conversation was getting strange.
"Chillax, Em," he chuckled. "I was just messing with you. I'll be at your place in an hour."
"You're in a strange mood tonight," she said uncertainly. "Alright. I'll see you when I see you."