ITBeastMan: I like you.
Spicysugar: I like you too.
A dull night turned into the best night of my life.
CHAPTER THREE
Ember
I wokeup with a start and glanced at the clock.11:30am. Wow. That’s the latest I’d slept in years. But I’d also never spent the entire night talking. Somehow, from just our messages, I felt connected to him. Like we’d known each other for years, the conversation flowed freely.
I laid back down against my pillows and stared at the ceiling, a wistful smile spreading across my face. I picked up my pillow and clutched it to my chest. Tingles ran down my spine. He wanted to meet. That was evident in his messages towards the end of the night. Sitting up and throwing the covers to the side, I hopped out of bed, took a quick trip to the bathroom, then grabbed my laptop and climbed back under the covers.
The screen opened to our messages on full display. And there was already a new one from this morning.
ITBeastMan: Good morning beautiful. I got maybe an hour of sleep before my alarm blared painfully. I may need to take a nap later. Or cut out early. Enjoy your day off (Lucky!) -Khai
My heart pumped hard in my chest. My body reacted simply from his words. What would it be like to see him in person?
I shifted in bed, pulling my knees up to rest my laptop against my thighs. As I began to type out a response, a single thought jarred me and my fingers froze, hovering above the keys.
It was my sister’s pictures he saw. While we resembled each other, we didn’t look exactly alike. I couldn’t deceive him.
But who said it was going any further than a few messages?
Spicysugar: Good morning! I won’t tell you I just woke up (whoops lol) but yeah, safe to say I didn’t get in a morning walk. Have a great day at work!
I hit send and toggled over to my email, thumbing through the hundreds of unread ones when a new message pinged.
Already? Isn’t he at work?
Though he works on a computer…
ITBeastMan: And the princess awakes from her slumber. Finally. I missed you.
A grin takes over my face.
Spicysugar: Aw, I missed you too. Were you waiting for me to send a message?
ITBeastMan: I can’t lie. I was on the edge of my seat.
My heart beat loudly in my ears. Tingles ran through me everywhere.
Spicysugar: I mean, I did wake up and immediately grab my laptop.
ITBeastMan: I can’t stop thinking about you. I know this might sound forward but have dinner with me. Please. I need to meet you. See if this connection I’m feeling is there in person.
Shit, it was happening already. He wanted to meet.
What do I do? Confess now and send a picture? Or wait to explain it in person?
Spicysugar: Yes, I’ll have dinner with you. Name the time and place.
ITBeastMan: I’d really like to cook for you. Would you be okay showing up to my place? If it feels too sketchy, we can meet up in public first.
Spicysugar: Are you in Appleridge?
ITBeastMan: The next town over, Apple Falls.