ME: I’ll take that as a compliment.
SEAN: It wasn’t meant as a compliment.
My fingers flew across the digital keyboard, a little squirm of excitement tightening in my belly.
ME:Exactly, that’s why it’s a compliment. Because I’ve succeeded in annoying you.
SEAN: That’s okay. I’m sure I’ve gotten U kicked out of more clubs N bars than you’ve annoyed me.
Cheeky butthead, I mused. I was usually pretty good with the comebacks, but my miserable condition made my mental cogs and gears rusty.
ME:better a brat than a pooh bear, anyway.
SEAN: Hey, this pooh bear is beloved by all.
ME: It’s just that cute belly.
I might have gone overboard. I didn’t want to insult him in a bad way. Once upon a time I wouldn’t have cared if I hurt his feelings, but that had changed recently, unbeknownst to me. Texting with him was actually nice and it distracted me from my predicament.
SEAN: What! I’m not fat, just a little fluffy. Besides, I got plenty of muscles in my arms to make up for it.
I was glad he’d taken it well. I very much enjoyed husky men and he had the lumberjack vibes going on I didn’t know I was into.
Despite being twenty, I was still discovering who I was. The journey had been stamped down courtesy of my parents. I’d spent so long pretending to be someone I wasn’t that I still wasn’t sure what I liked or didn’t like. Before I could respond, the text came through.
SEAN: Wait, did U just compliment me? It feels weird.
Damn. That hadn’t been my intention. I quickly changed the subject.
ME: Don’t let it go to your head. Besides, you didn’t leave me to die in the alley, so I suppose I can be a little less annoying.
SEAN: Uh huh. How R U feeling? Any better?
ME: Well, I don’t feel like I’m going to die, but it’s pretty damn miserable right now. Can’t swallow and can’t breathe without this oxygen mask.
SEAN: U should rest. We can continue our sparring match tomorrow.
ME: Fine. Goodnight, Pooh Bear.
SEAN: Nite, Brat. BTW, names Sean.
ME: I know, I was there the night you shook your ass on stage. I’m not surprised a meathead like you would choose such an uninteresting stage name.
SEAN: It was a onetime thing, so I didn’t need a stage name. And I think it’s sweet that U remembered my name. <3
With a grumble, I stuck the phone under the pillow and fell asleep, images of my ginger-crush strip dancing only for me haunting my dreams.
CHAPTER SIX
SEAN
I’d just started my shift as head of security at the Adonis when the text came through.
MATTEO: Feeling better. Can breathe easier. Throat still feels like I deep-throated a cactus.
ME: A cactus, huh? U know, if U wanted to practice swallowing a cock, U could have just asked.
I bit my lip as I hit send, a giddy sensation zipping through me. I figured flirting over texts was a distraction for the both of us.
