“Hey babe. On your way?”

 

“About that. Carm”

 

“Shane! We had a fucking agreement. Home by six. I haven’t seen you all week.”

 

“I had to move up some appointments.”

 

“What’s taking you so long?”

 

Shane sighed. “Just finishing the books.”

 

“Oh what, in between kick flips?”

 

“I’ll be home in an hour.”

 

Carmen huffed.

 

“HoneyCarmenjust wait for me, ok? It won’t take long.”

 

“I’ve missed you lately.”

 

“Me too baby.”

 

“Ok, hurry.”

 

“One more thing.”

 

“What?”

 

“I need you to do something for me.”

 

“This really isn’t the time for phone sex.”

 

“No, listen. I left a folder in my bag, on the chair in the bedroom?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“I need you to get something for me.”

 

“Like, bring it to you?”

 

“No, there are some papers in the folder, I just need you to read a number off to me from the purchase order.”

 

“Fineok.”

 

“It’ll be on top the of the stack, there’s a nine digit purchase code at the bottom.”

 

“Why did you even bring this home?”

 

“Carmen, this really isn’t the time.”

 

“Why would you leave it here if you knew you were backed up at work? Are you trying to be late?”

 

“I thought I wouldn’t need it. I was supposed to get a shipment in today of the test products for the line we’re putting out, but they didn’t get here. I need the purchase order to figure out where they are so that I can track them down and get them here before the weekend.”

 

“Oh”

 

“Carmen? Can I get that number now?”

 

“You’ve been working really hard on this line, you must be if it’s taking up so much of your time, right?”

 

“Yeah, I amnot going to mean much if it doesn’t get here.”

 

“So it must mean a great deal to you.”

 

“Look, if you’re pissed, fine, but don’t start fucking with my work.”

 

“No, honey, just listen. I’ll give you the number. I just need to make sure of somethingso I’m going to test you.”

 

“uhwhat?”

 

“I’m going to test you. Right now. I want you to say it.”

 

“What the fuck?”

 

“Say it, Shane, and I’ll give you the number just like that, but you have to say it.”

 

“Say what?”

 

“You know what.”

 

“Carmen”

 

“Say it.”

 

Shane surveyed the shop from her chair. Chase was still around, people were still skating on the ramp as the sun set. This would not do.

 

“Baby, I need that number.”

 

“I know you do baby. I’d love to give it to you. But I want you to give me something first.”

 

“Carmendon’t make me do this.”

 

“I don’t think it’s too much to ask that you acknowledge it in exchange for my assistance.”

 

“You know I can’t do that.”

 

“Try.”

 

Shane closed her eyes.

 

Carmen waited.

 

“I can’t.”

 

“My god, Shane, your fucking business is on the line.”

 

“God, stop being such a drama queen. If I don’t find them today, I’ll find them Monday. But I’d much rather make things easy on both of us, possibly free up my time next week to spend with my girlfriend.”

 

“And hey, you can. All you have to do is say it.”

 

“You’re sick, you know that?”

 

“You love it. You’ll always keep coming back for more.”

 

Shane could only smirk and shake her head.

 

“Yeah”

 

The line went silent for a few long moments.

 

And then a few more.

 

“I love you.”

 

“And?”

 

“I love it when you fuck me.”

 

Without another word, Shane wrote down the sequence of numbers Carmen told her. Chase just rolled his eyes.