This is what’s keeping me going. Alaric’s constant assurance is enough to galvanize me. I chew on my bottom lip as I type out my response.
EB
Counting down the minutes!
An idea occurs to me, so I quickly send off another text.
EB
Pick a color: black, white, red, or animal print.
The gray text bubbles appear on screen, confirming he’s typing out a reply.
It’s not a surprise. He always responds to my messages quickly. Maybe it has more to do with him being glued to his phone because of his job. Nevertheless, it’s nice to be prioritized.
His reply comes through a few seconds later.
AS
I need context in order to make an informed decision. Also, you really think animal print is a color?
I grin.
EB
Animal print is my FAVORITE color
It goes with everything—tans, browns, and blacks all blending together—and is the most wearable print in modern fashion. I’ve built an entire wardrobe around animal print.
Alaric sends through another text.
AS
You know I’m partial to Granata Red, but more context really would be helpful.
I take a screenshot of my open shopping cart, then forward it to him.
The little gray bubble pops up again, appearing and disappearing several times before a notification comes through. Except this notification isn’t a text message.
It’s an alert that Alaric Steele has sent me twelve hundred dollars.
Baffled, I sit up and stare at the screen. What the hell is he thinking?
Before I can ask, he texts.
AS
Get them all. Have them delivered express to my condo. You might need two of that red for what I have in mind this week.
I gape at the number on screen. But once I navigate back to my cart, sure enough, adding in another red bikini plus selecting rush shipping adds up to $1167. He’s already done the math.
EB
You’re ridiculous!
AS
But you’re getting them all, yes?
