Evan’s eyes lit up.“Ooh, let’s message him!Say you’re a fan.Or better yet, say you’re the son of his former admirer and you’re trying to piece together a mystery.Like a sexy version of Who Do You Think You Are.”
“No way.That’s...too much.”
“Fine.But at least bookmark the page.And don’t pretend you haven’t already.”
I didn’t answer.Just sipped my tea and stared at Ashton’s photo — the way his mouth curved, the way his gaze seemed to reach through the screen.
Evan stood up, stretching.“I’m grabbing the last of the biscuits.Don’t do anything scandalous while I’m gone.”
As soon as he left the room, I clicked the contact tab.
My heart thudded.
The form was simple.Name.Email.Message.
I hesitated.Then typed:
I stared at the words.Hovered over send.
Thenclicked.
A strange warmth spread through me — part adrenaline, part relief.
I didn’t tell Evan.
Not because I didn’t trust him.
But because I wanted to keep this moment for myself.
Just for now.
Just until I knew what it meant.
ASHTON
Tuesdays were a nothing-kind of day.Monday was the start of the week.Wednesday was the middle; Friday was the start of the weekend.But those two other days were just in-fill.
Mentally, I was in a bit of a slump.It wasn’t unusual for me to feel deflated after the high of my weekly livestream.I spent the entire day lounging in my apartment in baggy sweats, indulging in comfort food, and steering clear of Gavin.Not needing his particular brand of smartass until at least Thursday.
I was halfway through microwaving leftover pasta when my phone buzzed.
More focussed on my rumbling belly, I ignored it at first.Assuming it was another client asking if I’d do a custom video with whipped cream and a feather boa.Again.
But something made me check.
It wasn’t a booking.Or even a cute cat meme.
It was a message sent through my website.
“Hi, I found your site through...unusual means.I think you might have known someone close to me.”
A shiver ran down my spine; a sudden moment of awareness sparked to life.
“I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but I keep coming back here.You seem...real.And I guess I needed to say that.”
I read it twice.
Then a third time.
