Ultraviolet ✔️

10.2

Chapter Ten, Part Two

"Hey," he says.

"Hey," I echo.

I want to hang up, too nervous to go through with this. It's too late since he's already answered.

"I can't believe you called me," Joel tells me. "Is this about the case?"

"No," I admit.

I realize my mistake too late.

His smirk bleeds into his voice. "Oh, really? This is even better than a lead. I get to talk to you for the hell of it."

"Maybe not for the hell of it," I say. "Do you... do you wanna come over?"

He stops.

I feel my skin heat, wanting to take back the words as soon as I've said them. I sound crazy. He definitely won't agree to it, and he's probably wondering why I would ever say that to him.

"Are you flirting with me, Vi?" he asks.

I choke on my breath, and I'm positive he hears me coughing.

He laughs. "Don't die on me. I'd like an answer."

"N-No," I stammer. "I'm not. I just want to discuss the investigation. Laying it out might help."

"I thought this wasn't about the Grants," he points out.

"It is," I say, embarrassed. "All we're doing is talking about the case."

"Just the case?" he teases.

"Just the case," I say, my throat tight.

"I'll be over in a bit."

I'm left wondering if I made a mistake.

Thankfully, I didn't change into sweats earlier, so I'm still dressed and presentable when I meet him outside on the curb.

He's got sunglasses on, and it's paralyzingly sexy. I feel ridiculous for even thinking that. He's Joel, and I'm not supposed to be thinking about the way his jacket curves to his biceps or the way his cologne is wafting under my nose.

"You look pretty," he says.

I tug at my sweater self-consciously. "You saw me like this earlier."

"Yeah, but I didn't say it then," he replies.

"You can't do that."

"Do what?"

"Compliment me," I say.

"And why is that?" he questions.

"Because this is about work," I tell him, despite the fact I'm not sure that's true.

"Maybe for now," he agrees. "But it won't always be. One day, I'll tell you you're pretty, and you won't be able to put up a fight."

Pretty. He thinks I'm pretty.

A hidden part of me is a bit giddy at the prospect.

With that, he gestures to the door leading into my building. "Shall we?"

The scene that follows is sort of like my dream: us climbing the stairs in good spirits. My hands are shaking as I slide my key in the lock, considering the parallels between a nightmare and this.

The creaky door swings open and Joel and I step inside, shedding our respective jackets and shoes.

Betsy is coming out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel when she catches sight of the two of us, her cheeks flaming. "Oh, shit! Vi, you didn't tell me the hot detective was coming over."