"Alrik?"
I blinked and looked at the floor, remembering our fight with embarrassment.
"Is that you, Alrik? Is everything in order? Aleksei's tone changed to one of worry, which made the guilt I was feeling even more intensely intensify.
His first concern was for my wellbeing after the way we had left things.
"It's all OK. I'm simply me.
Jaslynn wrapped her arms around my midsection and I let out a deep breath, comforting me in a gentle way and urging me to keep going instead of hanging up.
I said, "I wanted to talk, but if it's late, I can call you back if you'd like. Or not if you don't want to talk to me," a little too hastily. I recognise."
"No, no, we can talk now," he hurriedly said, seeming to be anxious as well. "I'm not that tired anyway."
