Page 58 of Frog

“Like tonight.”

“This one’s too fancy.”

“I’ll show you all the cool stuff it can do later.”

“All right,” I agreed.

“And how ’bout that ringtone?” He cackled.

“It ain’t funny,” I groused at him.

There was at once his lilting laughter on the other end, sensual and mirthful at the same time. “Oh c’mon, get a sense of humor.”

“Where are you?”

“I need a favor.”

“Whatzat?”

“I met some friends out for drinks tonight after work because you had to go to that party with Carolyn and you wouldn’t have been home anyway, but now I realize I should have just gone home and waited for you.”

He was rambling, and his voice was rising. Someone was trashed. “And so?”

“Well now I’m a little drunk and so is everyone else and we walked to my friend Jeff’s place but I realized I left my car in the parking lot of the bar and I don’t want them to tow it but I don’t think I should be the one to move it and—”

“Take a breath before you pass out.”

“What?”

“I’ll move it,” I told him. “Is there a second set of keys, or do I need to come get them from you?”

“You don’t want to get me?”

“I do.” I smiled into the phone. Cy sounding unsure and needy was very cute. “But if there’s a second set, I can drive to you instead of making you walk with me back to the car.”

“Oh, yeah, that makes more sense.”

“So?”

“There’s a second set in the nightstand on my side of the bed.”

“Okay, where’s the bar?”

“Are you mad?”

“Why would I be mad?”

“Just that I went out drinking without you.”

“You’re a big boy. You can do as you please.”

“No, I know.”

“Did you have a bad day?” I prodded gently.

“What makes you ask that?”

“You’re not a big drinker. There has to be a reason for you to do that on a whim.”