My cheeks burn. I pull a throw pillow over my face like that will somehow protect me from the truth of what's happening.
Me: This is different. He's serious. Intense. He looked at my phone like it personally disappointed him.
Amber: That's foreplay.
Chloe: I am begging you to find a picture or snap a picture of him. Wonder if he ever drives through my shop. A lot of military and government types grab their coffee from me early in the morning.
Maya: What did he want with your phone? Did he give you a rule or something?
I pause, fingers hovering over the screen. Because yes. Yes he did.
Me: He told me not to post my location. Told me to stay in public places. Told me to think about whether I want him to walk away or step closer.
Emily: Protective, authoritative, concerned but controlled.
Lily: Girl. That man is already taking responsibility for you.
My pulse kicks at that. Because that's exactly what it felt like.
The chat continues buzzing with teasing, speculation, more than one eggplant emoji from Amber but I'm not really paying attention anymore. Because my phone is buzzing with a new notification. Ty.
Ty: Did you make it home safely?
My heart slams into my ribs. There is no world in which I should like this. No world in which I should find it attractive that he's checking on me like I'm something that needs monitoring.
Except I do.
Me: Yes.
Three dots appear almost immediately.
Ty: Good girl.
Just that. No emoji. No filler. Pure, simple approval.
I swallow hard, fingers shaking slightly as I type: You text all the women you give driving directions to?
A pause this time. Long enough that I second-guess everything.
Ty: Only the ones who don't listen well and need reminders.
Heat blooms low in my stomach, spreading through my limbs like the heat from a good whiskey.
Me: I listen fine.
Ty: We'll see.
My breath catches. Before I can overthink it, another message comes through.
Ty: Make sure you get some sleep tonight. You have a busy day tomorrow.
I frown.
Me: How do you know that?
Several seconds pass.
Ty: I watched your videos; you don't slow down. I won’t be available for the rest of the day, I wanted to text you before I lost service.
