But then that whimper sounded in my ears again, the sound I could never forget.
It was his. It had to be.
My heart pounding, I sat down at the laptop and logged into the chat. Only a second later, he logged on, too, his name blinking in front of me.
I turned to the window and set my eyes on the light of Izzy’s studio across the street. If I brought this up, he might think I was out of my mind, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t ask the guy on my laptop.
Hey cutie.
A couple of minutes passed before he answered.Hey. How’s it going?
Relief washed over me instantly.
I’m okay. Just got home about half an hour ago.
Yeah, same.
My heart jumped. “Okay,” I whispered to myself. “Don’t fuck it up.”
On top of everything else, pushing things and losing him would ruin me, but I didn’t exactly see another way out.
And even though we’d only just started to reconnect, I somehow believed losing Izzy would feel a million times worse. If risking things with this cutie meant possibly saving the new relationship with Izzy, I didn’t really see another choice.
Hey, I know this breaks the rules, but I’ve got something to ask you.
Another long pause sent my anxiety spiraling until he answered.What’s that?
Squinting, I typed.I think, maybe, there’s a small chance we met in real life?
WHAT?
I know, it’s ridiculous. And maybe I’m just confusing myself. But is there any chance you live in Pittsburgh?
After another long pause, he responded.I don’t know if I can answer that question.
“Yes!” I whispered to myself. That was definitely the answer someone who lived in Pittsburgh would give.
I understand. I don’t want you to share anything that you’re uncomfortable sharing.
We sat there in silence. Usually, he turned on his video feed right away, but the blank screen still stared back at me. My brain racing, I tried to think of something to say, something to burst through the wall we’d built.
My fingers flying across the keyboard, I turned to Google image search and grabbed an image of a white camas, and with shaky hands, I sent it to him.
The screen flicked on immediately. He sat cross-legged on his bed in his skeleton costume, his face totally covered. Behind him, I spotted the framed photos of hillsides and flowers, all recognizable from the area, and my hope jumped.
Are you messing with me?he asked.
I touched the screen, tracing my finger over his image.This is insane, I answered.
This is insane, he agreed.
My hand shaking, I moved the mouse over the little button that turned on my video. Pushing it felt forbidden, like I’d be launching a nuclear bomb into the careful fantasy we’d created together.
OkayOKai.Oh my god. Your name is OkayOkai.
Wincing, I clicked, filling the screen with my image.
“Oh my god!” Izzy gasped, his deep voice rolling out. “Kai!”
