Theo:Three texts show concern. Four texts is straight-up desperation. Don’t leave me on “delivered.” A man can’t take such a letdown. Ease my soul and tell me what the hell is going on. Am I allowed to flirt or not?
Chuckling, I decide to write back.
Renley:You know, people have jobs to do here. Not all of us can go on a summer holiday.
I almost set my phone down, but I immediately see that he read my message, so I wait to see what he texts back.
When his response comes in, my stomach does a flip of excitement, but I ignore the reaction because I can’t possibly examine the feeling. Not right now.
Not when I have more important things to focus on.
Theo:Is this really Renley? Or is this the handwriting pirate? Quick, tell me what I call you as a nickname.
Rolling my eyes, I text him back.
Renley:Gossy. Then again, that’s what you called me in your letter.
Theo:Shit, you’re right. Okay, last night, we stared up at the sky, looking for a shooting star. You found one. What did you name it?
Just to mess with him, I text him back with the wrong answer.
Renley:It was Vanica.
Theo:PIRATE! This is a pirate. Just you wait, I’m going to find out who you are and press charges. You will not get away with this.
Renley: You’re the most ridiculous man I’ve ever met. The name was Horace and before that, we had chocolate-covered strawberries in the candy shop; you had two and I had four. You also dumped a whole lot of cream in your mouth, and we shared a bottle of my aunt’s wine that encouraged me to make strange choices, like holding your hand.
Theo:*Calls off the authorities* Stolen identity is no joke.
Renley:Once again, so dramatic.
Theo:Well, now that I know it’s you, I have a few questions. What are you doing right now? Why did you skip our walk? And why did you limit my visitations? I’d think after the bond we shared last night, you would have chosen infinite. Explain yourself, Gossy.
Renley: Right now, I’m sitting on the bar of my shop, taking a break from staining. I didn’t intentionally skip the walk, the wine forced me to stay in bed longer than expected. And it was because of last night’s activities that I have to tighten up visitations. We can’t be doing anything crazy like that again.
Theo:Crazy? That wasn’t crazy. That was amazing. I mean, amazing for you. For me it was just okay, you know? Ho-hum, just a regular old night, nothing too fancy.
Renley:What did we say about lying?
Theo:We said not to do it, but if you recall, it’s not in the rules, so…
Renley:Do you know what else isn’t in the rules? Our walk every day…
Theo:Oh no you don’t. That was agreed upon in a previous barter; the two don’t coincide.
Renley:Well, not lying is basic human decency.
Theo:Very true. How about this? I don’t lie, you give me infinite visitations and a walk tonight under the stars, and we call it even?
Renley:Nice try. Not happening.
Theo:You drive a hard bargain. Okay, I won’t lie, you give me infinite visitations, and I take you out to dinner, and then we go for a walk. Final offer.
Renley:Go find your friend and take him out to dinner.
With that, I set my phone down, a smirk on my face, and go back to staining.
I like pushing his buttons.
