When I woke up, Jesse was calling me again.
"Susannah," He said when I answered.
"Jesse," I sighed, still half asleep. I was so sick of blue eyes haunting my mind. What I really needed were some smoldering black ones, so full of love and comfort that I didn't have to feel that edge. What had I been thinking? Jesse was so perfect and wonderful- his kisses, his love were what I wanted.
"I miss you," He told me. "When are you coming home?"
My toes curled as the bubbliness rose in my chest. I pulled the blankets tighter around me. "I miss you too, things have been too weird without you." Way weird. "I think I'm back in three weeks or so."
"Too long," Jesse sighed. "What is it you mean by weird?"
"Um, nothing I guess. How's the cat?"
"Spike is fine." He sounded agitated. "Susannah you're hiding something from me."
"Oh, so he hasn't missed me at all?" I joked weakly. Spike in no way had extended any affection since the first day I met him.
"Querida," His voice turned to liquid honey, "Tell me what's wrong." He'd figured out recently I couldn't resist this voice. And he'd been using it.
I couldn't tell him that Paul was here. I just couldn't. It'd lead to further questions and more lies and- no. "Nothing, Jesse," I lied sweetly. "I promise. I just miss you."
"Ah." He sounded unconvinced.
Beep! I looked down at the screen.
Paul calling!
"Well I have to go." I said nervously.
"Oh," He sounded disappointed.
"I'll call you later," I said, my mind already ten paces ahead towards what Paul could possibly be calling for.
"Ok- Susannah?"
"Yes?"
Beep. Beep. I blushed.
"I love you," His voice smoldered.
I sighed, forgetting about the incoming call, about Paul, about how sleepy I was- everything.. Those words could kill my heart and bring it pounding back to life within a second. "I love you too," I whispered, closing my eyes.
When he hung up, the beeping almost escaped me in my daze. Almost.
"Hello?"
"Suze." He said comfortably.
"Just when I thought you'd spared me and given up."
"Oh, please." I could almost hear his smirk. "Like you want me to stop."
I flushed. I hated how close to the truth that was. Before, everything he said was so far from the truth, it was easy to ignore.
"Right." I snapped sarcastically, "So what do you want?"
"Same thing as always." He said. "You."
I ignored the way my stomach flipped. "Seriously Paul."
"I am serious," He remarked casually, "But, more specifically, I want to see you now. I found something in my uncle's house that I think would interest us both."
"Mediator stuff?" I asked, my breath catching.
"Yes, Suze. You better get over here." He said, and in some far-off way I knew he was probably just looking for an excuse to lure me there- but I was too curious to care.
"I…can't." I sighed. "I just talked to Jesse- I think it's a good idea if we stayed away from eachother."
"Suze," He said silkily, "This is mediator business. Of course it's innocent. Your floating heart-less slab wouldn't mind your doing your job."
"He has more heart than you do." I said angrily. "Whether its beating or not."
"I'll come get you in ten minutes."
"Paul," I said slowly.
He waited.
"I'm serious. Touch me and we're not talking for the rest of the summer?"
"Afraid you won't be able to resist?"
"That better not be anything but an agreement."
"Fine." He said flippantly. "But what if you want to touch me after all this time? Does it still apply?"
I hung up on him.