SpyderMan: You have no idea. Did you finish your homework?
Aaand I’m already squirming in my seat as I try to shake off the sudden student-teacher roleplaying scenario short-circuiting my brain. That’s got to be a record—horny in 10 words or less. I pull my lower lip between my teeth and bite down on the smile.
mermaidav: Moi? Hmm… Can you narrow it down?
SpyderMan: How you going withDune?
I nearly roll my eyes. This man and his sci-fi. He’s been trying to find something I like in his favorite genre for months now. Love the dedication, and that he’s never butthurt when I tell him what I really think.
mermaidav: Initial thoughts… main character is named Paul? Really? I’m supposed to take him seriously as a fantasy hero with a generic white guy name?
SpyderMan: Luckily my name is not Paul and I take no offense.
I grin. Another to mark off the running list. From other conversations, I also know his name isn’t Mark or Quentin. That only leaves, like, a million more possibilities.
mermaidav: I’ll be honest—not sure I’m going to finish this one either.
SpyderMan: Not even the giant sand worms could tempt you?
mermaidav: Wiener-adjacent, I’ll give you that much, but not quite what I had in mind.
Excitement zings through me as I wait for his reply. He sends a laughing response, and I grin. People type “lol” with a straight face all the time, but I like to think that he really did laugh out loud. I wonder what his laugh sounds like. Is it restrained? Low and grumbly, in that way that makes me all shivery? Does he actually get tears in his eyes, or is he one of those guys who says “that’s so funny” without actually laughing?
Dios, I hope not.
SpyderMan: There’s just no pleasing you, is there?
I bite my lip, fingers hovering over the keys as I think of and discard a dozen provocative responses ranging from innocuous to outright horny. I settle somewhere in the middle.
mermaidav: Where’s the fun in being easy to please? I like a man who’s willing to work for it.
SpyderMan: I do enjoy a challenge.
mermaidav: That must be why you made such quick work of the code for patching that vulnerability. Thanks again for your help.
SpyderMan: Happy to do it. I’d say you owe me one, but I’m not even sure who owes whom anymore.
I roll my eyes.Whom.This Shakespearean fucker. I bet he’s British. He talks like he’s British. He says things likebrilliantandtrousersand spells gray with an “e.” He called the stove a hob once—I had to look that one up.
mermaidav: Pretty sure it’s like 10:1 in me owing you favors now.
Generally speaking, I don’t like the feeling of being in someone’s debt. And frankly, asking someone with SpyderMan’s skillset to help write the fix elegant enough to patch SmarTech’s vulnerability without being noticed felt a bit like asking Einstein for help with my geometry homework. But he always says yes, he’s neveractuallyasked for anything in return, and he gives my requests such complete, immediate focus that it makes me feel like a priority—like I’m his first priority.
It’s… nice.
SpyderMan: Pretty sure you’re right. But I’m saving my tickets for the big prize. Something I really want.
My heart instantly kicks me right in the sternum at what is probably innocuous, but feels like a blatant sexual innuendo because I want it to be. I consider my next message, drumming my fingers on the composite desk, but he beats me to it.
mermaidav: like…
SpyderMan: Let’s start with the data sort
Oh, right. The job he gave me. The foundation of our relationship. My heart sinks, then lifts again in the span of a single beat at the thought of my payout. I sort through my open windows and drag a file into the chat box for him to decrypt.
mermaidav: I feel like I should make you wait since I’ve still got a few hours, but I’m feeling generous. And if you are too, I wouldn’t say no to a tip.
The notification comes through from my banking app a few seconds later, and I grin as I see a hefty tip, with the noteEarned in bed. I tell myself it’s not charity that made him give in to my pricing demands, but respect for a consistent, quick turnaround. And maybe to keep me coming back for more.
