“Oh.” I stand with her. “That’s right. Running away is the better option. I just wish I could find a man who’d be happy to have a long-standing fling with a single mother.”
Ellery grabs her bag, an oversized one big enough for her to carry a Kindle and three physical books, just in case, and heads for the door. “I’ll wish on a star tonight for Deacon to be that guy.”
“Good night, Ell,” I say as I walk her to the door. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She blows me a kiss as she leaves.
I practically sprint through my nightly wind-down routine because I’m hoping to catch Handsyguy before he turns in for the night.
In my PJ's, I jump into bed and settle in, already scrolling on my phone to the dating app and Handsyguy’s message. He hasn’t sent another, and I’m practically breathless, hoping that he’ll see the message I hurriedly type out and send tonight.
DogPerson185:Is it weird that I’ve never seen your face, but I consider you one of my best friends?
I send the message off, my heart racing. I feel like I just stripped naked in front of the whole town. I immediately want to take the message back.
What if it’s too much? Do I sound like a stalker?
Or what if I’ve just pushed him to declare he wants more than friendship and I lose him altogether?
My phone chimes with an incoming message and, for a moment, I’m too nervous to remember my password when neither my fingerprint nor my facial recognition works.
Handsyguy37:Getting a message from you is my favorite part of every day. How’d your social thing go?
Giddiness makes me bounce and squee like a damn teenager.
DogPerson158:I think it went fine. You were right. It just took me a little while to remember how to do it.
HandsyGuy37:Do you have the same trouble being friendly in a social setting as you do at work?
My first instinct is to lie. I want this guy I’m never going to meet to think the best of me.
But I’ve never been good at lying.
DogPerson158:I’m even worse in a social setting than at work. I get a lot less practice.
Does he realize ‘social setting’ is code for date? I should just tell him.
But he might stop flirting with me, and we’ve already declared each other friend-zoned, so what can it hurt?
HandsyGuy37:I’d offer to let you practice on me, but you still don’t want to meet. Unless that’s changed?
My heart beats a little faster at the idea, but I can’t meet this guy. If he’s this easy to talk to in person and there’s any hint of attraction, there’s no way I won’t fall for him.
Or worse, there’ll be no attraction and he’ll lose interest in messaging me.
DogPerson158:Sorry. As much as I could use the practice, that’s a hard no.
HandsyGuy37:Fair enough. Change of subject. What’s your favorite horror movie?
Damn it. Why does he have to be so perfect?
DogPerson158:Zombie Dawn is my all-time favorite. Kind of hard to watch horror movies with a four-year-old at home.
HandsyGuy37:I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I saw Zombie Dawn when I wasn’t much older than four. That’s the danger of growing up with a bunch of older brothers.
DogPerson158:Oh, no. Were you traumatized?
HandsyGuy37:Completely. Can’t say I’ll ever watch that one again willingly. But I still love horror movies. List your top ten, and we’ll compare.
