Me:Were you thinking about Fred’s family when you sacrificed him to protect your queen?
A bubble with three dots popped up on my screen indicating that Dan was typing a message, but it kept disappearing and reappearing. Finally, his response appeared.
BBG:Sometimes doing anything to protect your queen is the only way to win the game.
I stared at Dan’s message for a long time, unsure how to interpret it. That was the annoying thing about text messages. It was impossible to read emotion behind the words.
Was he joking? Was he serious? Was he flirting?
Was it a combination of all three?
How should I reply?
Should I reply?
Melissa startled me when she set the tray with my drinks down on the table with a bang that must have sounded a lot louder in my mind. I smiled at her as I added a splash of milk and three packets of sugar to my coffee. Her mother was right behind her with my waffles.
Me:We’ll have to memorialize Fred later. My waffles just got here and my window for even melted butter distribution is closing.
BBG:Butter distribution is very crucial to the waffle experience.
My smile returned.
Me:Will I see you later?
BBG:I have a lot of work to do tonight, so probably not.
My smile faded and my mouth twisted in disappointment.
BBG:Unless you plan on breaking into my flat in the middle of the night again…
I let out a loud snort.
Me:I think my days as a petty criminal are over. I was only asking because I wanted to know if I needed to fend for myself for dinner.
BBG:Hmm. Well, I can’t have you starving to death, can I? I could take a break and come back to the house, if only to make sure you don’t burn the kitchen down trying to feed yourself.
Me:Ha ha. No need. I’ll just grab something to go from Erica and microwave it later. I’m not completely useless.
BBG:Emma, you are the furthest thing from useless.
Well, what the hell did he mean by that? Before I could ask him, he sent another message.
BBG:Well, I’ll let you get on with your waffles. Be careful with that hand. I’ll have my phone on all day if you need anything.
Me:Thanks.
Dan didn’t reply, and I stared at my phone until the screen went dark. I grabbed my knife to cut into my waffles and found that the butter had gotten cold, but for some reason, I didn’t care.
The rest of my breakfast was uneventful until I asked for my check.
“Mr. Dennis paid for your breakfast,” she said cheerfully and pointed to a table near the entrance of the restaurant.
“Mr. Dennis?” I looked across the crowded diner and immediately recognized the elderly man I’d helped use a computer in the library while exploring the town the day before. I didn’t even remember him telling me his name. I didn’t think a few Google searches and PDF downloads warranted a free meal, but I waved and mouthed the wordsThank you. As I looked around the diner, I noticed that, though I was still getting stares, they seemed friendlier somehow. When did that happen?
“So how do you like the farm so far?” Melissa’s voice startled me out of my thoughts. She smiled as she slid into the booth across from me and propped her chin up on the heels of her hands with her elbows resting on the table in the universalI’m listeningpose.
“Well, it’s definitely different from what I’m used to, but it’s growing on me.” An involuntary smile tugged at my lips.
