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was just words on a screen.  I didn’t have
to hear the gravelly tone of his voice.  At least in my head it was gravelly
and sexy.  I could only imagine how he’d grown into it.  I still had trouble
putting the two images I had of Owen together. I’d seen a few pictures, but
they felt like pictures of a stranger.  So it was easy for me to forget that he
was not the boy I remembered. It was easy to keep everything light.  I laughed
as I remembered telling Cassie that he was kind of like my hobby.  He kept me
entertained and it made me happy.  But it was abstract.  A daily part of my
life that was actually completely separate from it.  It was an odd sensation. 
    That all
changed the day he called.
    It was a
Sunday afternoon and I was cleaning the kitchen.  I glanced down at my phone
and saw his name and froze.  He’d texted me periodically, but never had he
called.  I wasn’t sure I wanted to pick it up.  So I stood there.  Frozen.
Staring.  All I had to do was hit the green accept the button. It would be nice
to hear his voice.  But hearing it would make things different. It would make
him real.  Real? Ha, like he was my imaginary friend.  I was completely
crazytown.
    The phone
stopped ringing.  My heart sunk.  I should have answered.  I could call him
back.  I thought about it, imagined hitting the call button, and him answering. 
Was I ready for this? Was I really this wishy-washy? My inner monologue
continued until the beep of a voicemail drug me back to reality. I hit the play
button and heard the deep voice greet me. It was better than I had imagined. 
Hey, Kat.  It’s me.  I figure you are probably staring at your phone deciding
whether you should answer or not.  So, I’m going to wait a few minutes and call
you back.  So…answer.”
    Damn.  How did
he know that?  Was I really that predictable?  I took the phone and moved to
the living room.  Sitting on the couch I pulled my legs under me Indian style
and stared at the phone in my hands, waiting for him to call back.  When it did
start ringing, I nearly jumped out of my skin. I gave it a beat before I hit
accept.
    “Hi,” I said.
    “There she
is.” I could hear the smile in his voice and I relaxed.
    “I was
cleaning the kitchen when you called. I didn’t get to the phone in time,” I
said.  I hoped he would accept that as truth. 
    “Good. I
thought maybe you were ignoring me.”
    “Never,” I
said. I sunk back into the pillows of the couch, letting the sound of his voice
wash over me, adding it to the list of new Owen. 
    “I was just
sitting here at the office and it’s just not the same working without getting
to talk to you.  Plus, I kind of just wanted to hear your voice.” That made me
smile and I was glad he couldn’t see the slight blush cross my cheeks.
    “Why are you
working on a Sunday?” I asked. 
    “I have to go
out of town next week. One of my buddies is getting married so we’re all going
on a long bachelor’s weekend.  I thought I’d get caught up now so I don’t have
to worry with work while we are gone,” he said.
    “Well that
sounds dangerous, but like a lot of fun,” I laughed.  I could only imagine what
kind of trouble a group of guys could get into.
    Owen laughed
and the sound was deep and musical.  Yeah, this was way better than words on a
screen. “It’s my job to keep them all in line.”
    “I doubt that.
More likely you are the ringleader. Hope you packed bail money,” I teased him. 
    “Well, it
wouldn’t be right if we didn’t send him off in style.”
    “You are a
good friend,” I said in mock seriousness. 
    “Right?  I’m
glad you can see that.  Saves me from sending you the newsletter.” Feigning
relief, I laughed.
    “When do you
leave?” I asked.
    “Wednesday
night.  It’ll be nice to get away for awhile.  We have a good group of guys
from college and we’re all spread out these days.  This is just a good excuse
for us to get together and blow