“Oh my God, Molls. Your imagination is an active place,” Ava says.
“Forgive me for watching Dateline and not wanting my sister to get hacked to pieces and stuffed in a trash bag and thrown off a cliff.”
“Uh, baby, that might be a bit of stretch.”
“A bit of stretch? Is that what you’re going to say when we’re attending Ashley’s memorial service?”
“Chill. Here, I have a pic of him. Well, his torso.” To placate my sister, I grab my phone and click on the app. His profile pic appears, and I hand over my phone.
“Those are some nice abs,” Ava says.
“They are,” Ev agrees. “And is he holding a Maine Coon?”
“Nice abs? He can be a serial killer and have nice abs. Besides, how do you know he didn’t download that pic from the internet? Oh, I think that is a Maine Coon.”
I roll my eyes and snatch my phone back. Looking at our string of messages, I see that he replied an hour ago, so I message back.
Seriousley617: Glad you had a good dinner. We had fun here too, and I ate my weight in pumpkin pie.
Catlover99: A solid choice. And now I’m hungry again. Dammit.
Seriousley617: haha. Listen, I need you to tell my sister you’re not a serial killer. I know we never divulge too much personal info on here, but…
Catlover99: But since you’re meeting me for coffee Saturday morning, you want to make sure my fridge and basement aren’t full of bodies.
Seriousley617: Something like that. And we’re meeting for coffee, huh?
Catlover99: Yea, if that’s cool with you? Shit. This is my not-remotely-smooth way of asking if you want to get coffee with me on Saturday.
Seriousley617: That sounds perfect. But I still need an answer on the serial killer question.
Catlover99: Sends pic of freezer. It’s empty except for a bag of peas.
Catlover99: I live on the fourth floor, so no basement. But I promise I’m not a murderer. I don’t have the time.
Seriousley617: (laughing emoji)
Seriousley671: My sister says she’s watching you. And though she has no actual way of doing that, you may want to watch your step.
Catlover99: Noted. So, you’re still doing the fam thing?
Seriousley617: Yep. I’m at my dad’s. There are at least twenty-five other people here.
Catlover99: Damn.
Seriousley671: You had plans? sends heart eye emojis
Catlover99: I’m not opposed to “plans” *cue sex music*, but I was kind of hoping to hear your voice.
Seriousley671: Sadly, there is no privacy here. Case in point, three people are reading this message over my shoulder as I text it. So, you’ll just have to wait for our coffee date on Saturday.
Seriousley617: Forget I said that. Not date. Meet. Coffee-Meet.
Catlover99: Nope. You said it. It’s already out in the universe.
Seriousley617: (sends pic of turtle hiding in its shell)
Catlover99: Can’t wait for our coffee date. :)