Handsyguy37:Not an excuse. My brothers are my best friends in the world. They drive me crazy ninety-nine percent of the time, but they’re still my favorite people.
DogPerson158:That’s amazingly sweet. Unless you’re in some sort of family-run commune. Have you ever met any people outside of your family? Is the Internet your only way to communicate with the world?
I laugh again. She’s funny. And it’s hard to be funny without being face-to-face. I consider what her face might look like. Would her eyes sparkle when she gave me shit? Would she smirk? Or would she keep a straight face? Would I have a hard time telling when she was teasing me versus when she was being her blunt self?
Handsyguy37:We don’t call it a commune. We call it a connection because we are all spiritually connected. We are all one. We are all family. You should join. It’s totally fun.
DogPerson158:You made me drop my phone. Please tell me you’re fucking with me.
Handsyguy37:I’m totally fucking with you. How about you? Close to your family?
DogPerson158:Without revealing any personal details, let’s just say, I’m close to my family, but I also have a best friend who’s not family. So, I’m not as close to mine as you are to yours.
Handsyguy37:What are we going to talk about if we can’t share personal details? Our favorite sexual positions?
DogPerson158:Nothing tonight. I’m going to bed.
Handsyguy37:Talk tomorrow?
DogPerson158:I commit to nothing. We’ll talk when we talk.
I wait a few seconds for her to send another message and, when she doesn’t, I contact the next person on my list. She responds almost immediately.
SaraFine16:Hi.
Handsyguy37:Thanks for getting back to me. How do you feel about handsome, bearded guys?
SaraFine16:It’s fine.
What’s fine? The beard? I have no idea what to say to this woman. But would Sebastian like a woman who doesn’t have a lot to say? He tells me all the time that I talk too much.
Handsyguy37:Great! What do you like to do for fun?
SaraFine16:All kinds of things. How about you?
Wow. Okay.
Handsyguy37:I work a lot, but I also really enjoy being outdoors. Rock climbing, skiing, running. I’m a gym rat too. I love lifting heavy. Any of that appeal to you?
SaraFine16:Not really.
And I’m calling it.
Handsyguy37:Guess we aren’t a great fit. It was nice talking to you.
SaraFine16:Okay. Bye.
The shivering is getting so bad my teeth are chattering, but it’s still too early for me to go to bed. If we had a dog, I’d take him for a walk. Instead, I take myself for a walk. Levi’s house is in a neighborhood with actual sidewalks, and it’s not too far from town.
I head out with no destination in mind, but end up at one of the local bars. I don’t know anyone there, but I make friends the way most people breathe.
I end up staying out far later than I should.
CHAPTER FIVE
Amelia
I’m smiling as I pull up to a small house about ten miles outside of town. I’m not exactly sure why I’m smiling. Maybe because Harper gave me a big hug this morning and told me she loves me. Maybe because I got a great night’s sleep.
