“I think I need to hear you say that word with your mouth,” he said, voice laced with amusement. From the looks of it, he was also in bed. Wearing…a long-sleeve navy tee? What happened to his plaid pajamas set? Surrounding him was a gray duvet, gray pillows, and a dark wood headboard.

“I can’t believe you FaceTimed me at this hour. From bed,” Kamila said.

“Say it, Kam.” His voice was full of playful challenge.

“Say what?”

“You know. Say the word.” He smirked. How the heck did anyone find this man intimidating?

She grinned. “I want to tzhuj up the party space a bit.” She enunciated the word slowly, puckering her lips as she said tzhuj. “Actually…” She put the phone closer to her face to look at his surroundings. “From the looks of it, your bedroom could use some tzhujing up, too.”

“Jooje?” he said slowly.

“Yes, tzhuj.”

He shook his head, smiling. “Well, whatever it is, if it results in my bedroom looking like yours, I’ll pass. Are those tassels on your pillows?”

“It’s a throw pillow. You’re welcome to borrow it.” She grabbed the bright-fuchsia raw-silk pillow from behind her head and held it up for the camera.

“I’m afraid those tassels would end up in my mouth when I’m sleeping.”

“I don’t actually sleep with it.” She tossed it aside and laid her head down on the deep-purple satin pillow she actually slept on. “It’s decorative. So, this is a new development in our friendship, right?”

“What is?”

“Late-night video calls. Me getting to see your bedroom. But of course, I am the first person to ever fall asleep on you. And the last.”

He chuckled low as he settled back against his headboard, his hair on his plush-looking, high-quality pillow. “Kam, we’ve known each other literally forever.”

Kamila suddenly sat up straight. “Wait—I am, aren’t I?”

“You are what?”

“The last person who fell asleep on you. I mean, that was only a few days ago…but…are you secretly getting some action?” She wasn’t about to entertain the possibility that this action was with Jana Suleiman, but what if there was someone else in his life that she didn’t know about? Maybe that’s why he was so private about his home. What if all the work she was doing keeping him from Jana was moot, and he had another person in his bed? She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

“Kam, I’m hanging up now.”

“Does that mean you have a secret paramour?”

He snorted. “Really? Paramour?”

“Lover? Flame? Mistress? Hookup?”

“Kam, good night…”

She crossed her legs, sitting in the middle of her bed. “I mean, if you did, it would be okay. Like I said before, celibacy is way overrated. Casual sex is great.” She frowned. “It’s been weeks for me. I hope I’m not getting sexually frustrated.”