I found the books and handed him one. He held it willingly, as if it were going to give him the confidence to speak to me. It must have.

“Um, you know…I was thinking..” he trailed off.

“Hmm?” I raised my brows but didn’t look at him. I didn’t want to add any pressure to him. I wanted to give him space to think. I acted as if I were searching for a book.

“If…well, since we’re working together and all, I…I would need your phone number?” His voice rose at the end.

“Of course!” I wanted to make it less of a big deal, because it was a Very Big Deal. “But there are rules, you know.” I turned to him. “You can’t call me after 9 PM. My parents go to bed, and don’t want to be disturbed.”

“Oh.” he sounded disappointed. I smiled, picking up on his thoughts.

“What time do you get off work?”
“10.”
“I see! Sorry, Bud, can’t call me later.” There was a smile in my voice that matched my face. He grinned. Our eyes met. Something clicked between us. We both knew, in that moment, this project was only the beginning.