And now I can add two more. I run my fingers along the vinyl surface of the first. It’s the outline of a Greek goddess on a calming blue background.Aphroditeis printed beside the long-haired woman. The second sticker, in the same style, is ofAtropos.
A quick google search explains that Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty, while Atropos is the goddess of fate and destiny.
Hmm.
After applying both, I snap a picture of my laptop to send to Cam. I stop, though, with my finger frozen over his name. When I switched out of airplane mode yesterday, there was a text from him waiting. I let him know I’d arrived safely but left it at that. There was no mention of sleeping in his bed last night. I bet he’d appreciate a picture of the stickers’ new home, but then what? Sure, we’re technically friends, even without the “with benefits” part, but what does a friendship with him post-Greece even look like? Will we hang out when he’s back in the city? We didn’t talk about it before I left.
Deciding against messaging him for now, I prop my phone against the small floral arrangement on the table, set a three-second timer, and snap a picture of myself holding my Mr. Darcy, keeping the new stickers on display in the foreground. Then I navigate to Instagram and post the picture along with a caption that readsCozy vibes & caffeinated inspiration with Mr. Darcy, and tag the Black Hole.
After a few minutes of mindless scrolling, a notification pops up.
@click_it_with_camstarted following you. Then@click_it_with_cam liked your post, followed by@click_it_with_cam commented on your post.
I slap a hand over my mouth when I literally snort at his punny handle, then I tap on the last notification.
@click_it_with_cam: Bird by bird…
Did he just reference every writer’s bible? Who is this guy?
Before I can dissect that, a banner appears at the top of myscreen, alerting me that@click_it_with_camhas sent a direct message.
Cam
Ask Iris for the Andalusian Dream next time. It’s part of the secret menu
Me
What’s that?
Cam
Please tell me you’ve read The Alchemist
Me
No…
Cam
I should spank you for that
Yes. Yes, you should.While I love his playful side, I can’t let this convo go there.
Me
I pull up my web browser and search forThe Alchemist, then zoom in on the orange cover with a yellow circle in its center. The drawing inside the circle is familiar. Where have I seen this design before? I sit back and survey the ceiling while I rack my brain. It only takes a moment to place it.
Cam’s tattoo. Specifically, his forearm tattoo. I feel like Sherlock Holmes solving a mystery. (Sherlock Holmesalso happens to be what the Black Hole calls their black coffee.)
I switch over toInstagram again.
Me
Is that your favorite book?
