Baggage Claim by Juliana Smith

Author:Juliana Smith [Smith, Juliana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2022-11-25T16:00:00+00:00

I tossed and turned for hours. I couldn’t be sure why. Maybe it was the amount of caffeine I’d consumed that day, or too much screen time. Possibly the fact that I had an amazing date with my hot fake boyfriend who I was slowly developing feelings for.

Nope. Not that.

I reached for my phone in hopes of a distraction. I mindlessly read my ebook, escaping into a wild fantasy. I slipped in between the rich words and fell into murder mysteries, romance, dragons, and faeries. It was far better than anywhere on Earth.

As I was reading, a notification popped up on my phone that I didn’t expect.

Hottie from 15B: You still up?

I still have to change that contact name…

I checked the time, noting it was one in the morning, and wondered why Finn was up so late.

Me: Sure am.

A moment later my phone rang, and I didn’t hesitate to pick up.

“Hello,” I said, my voice hushed like a teenager who was scared of their mom catching them on the phone late at night.

“Hey, honey.” Oh no. Finn’s voice was even sexier late at night. It was rich and creamy and reminded me of caramel. It clung to my brain and weaved its way through me. Between the deep and thick tone and his use of the word honey, I was a puddle.

“What are you doing up?” In comparison to his sexy tone, my voice was small and squeaky.

“Couldn’t sleep.” Me either. “I thought I’d see if you were up too, and I lucked out.”

I reached over and turned on my Bluetooth headphones so I could hear his voice better. “Well, you did, I’m up and can’t sleep for anything.”

“Have you tried counting Maxes?” I could hear his grin through the phone.

“Huh?”

“You know…like counting sheep. Counting Max… since you’re my Grinch?” I liked the way he said my Grinch as if I really was his, as if we had known each other as long as we claimed. As if the time we’d spent together had been real and not him doing me a favor.

When I didn’t answer right away, he continued. “Crap, it sounded funnier in my head.”

It made me giggle, thinking of Finn lying in the dark, making his little jokes. I wondered where he was, and figured he was probably in bed like me. But what was he wearing? Did he sleep naked? Oh no, no. No. Between his deep voice and that mental image, my brain was shot.

“You there, Olive?” His use of my name brought me back to reality.

“Oh yeah, sorry. I was just thinking.“

I heard a shuffle of what sounded like pillows being adjusted. “What are you thinking about tonight?”

You.

“Not much really. Politics, religion, taxes…”

Finn’s laugh as it filtered through my headphones was oddly comforting. “Sounds like a fun time in that big brain of yours, but I don’t believe you.Tell what you’re really thinking.” His voice dropped an octave, suggesting I had inappropriate thoughts, which was true, but I’d never admit it to him.

He continued when I didn’t respond.

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