Izzy
I’vefeltrestlesssincemy fake date last night with Jaxon. The kind of restless that is usually taken care of by a spouse or significant other. At the very least a medical-grade silicone toy.
Unfortunately for me, I have none of those. And my fingers haven’t ever done jack shit for me.
So, instead of sleeping last night, I tossed. And I turned. And then I did it all again.
“Izzy?” Becca says. “Can you move? I, too, would like some coffee.”
I blink, realizing I’m standing directly in front of our coffee pot, empty mug in hand. “Oh, um, just a second,” I say, grabbing the carafe. Once my mug is full, I open the fridge, adding a splash of milk. No matter how old I get, I just can’t seem to drink black coffee. It’s just too bitter.
As soon as I sit down to start sending the much-needed caffeine into my bloodstream, my phone buzzes next to me.
Jaxon
Thanks for last night. I had a really great time.
Me
I did too, surprisingly.
Jaxon
You don’t have to be so nice to me. I already know you’re my number one fan.
I sigh. I'm not sure what exactly it says about me if I can forgive, forget, and move on from something that caused me so much pain so quickly, but there's something about this friendship with Jaxon that just feels right.
“Is that Jaxon?” Becca asks.
“Yeah,” I say, dropping my phone down. I walk to the fridge, staring inside it blankly before deciding there’s nothing I want to eat and sitting down.
I grab my phone. Look at the screen. And then set it back before standing, opening up the freezer this time, and scanning.
“What…what is going on here?” Becca asks, motioning with her hand at me.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
A line forms between Becca’s eyebrows as she frowns. “You’re being weird.”
“I’m always weird,” I say on a huff. Slumping into my seat.
“Yeah, but usually it’s more on the quirky side of the weird spectrum rather than this strangeabout to start breeding spidersvibe you’ve got going on.”
“Did I tell you I met a woman once who has over a hundred spiders as pets?” I ask.
“Yes. I remain haunted by that information,” Becca replies, shaking her shoulders as if shivering.
I sip my coffee, forcing myself to calm the fuck down.
Honestly, it’s not working. I feel jittery and uncomfortable.
“Okay, you’ve got to tell me what it is,” Becca says, reaching out and holding my knee down to keep it from bouncing.
I shake my head. “I’m just on edge.”
“On edge?”
“Yeah. That fake date with Jaxon last night is really fucking with me. Like, I can’t stop thinking about the way his throat moved when he swallowed, which is weird. And I couldn’t sleep last night, and I’m just…”
