That proverbial radio silence screams at me from the comm every time it pings and a brief moment’s hope is extinguished by Kita.
I love her, and the disappointment feels like I’m betraying our friendship.
She distracts me well, even though she doesn’t know she’s doing it, or that I need it. We’ve decided on the next “Earth training video”—as she likes to call them—for movie night. She let me know that the Juice Boxdoeshave an espresso machine and they promised her someone on staff could make a cappuccino in the morning. And, she let me know that her parents are coming into town in two months and she wants me to meet them.
But eventually, she’s called away by her job and I’m left wondering what… exactly… about me made him ghost.
But no… I won’t think about it that way. Whatever it is, it’s not my fault.
I refuse to get up and look in the mirror. My days of questioning my body are long past. I’m perfect. If I he was too scared to?—
My comm buzzes and I’m very happy to let Kita distract me again, except, it’s not Kita.
I’m so sorry I didn’t thank you for the photo.
Before I left you, an emergency sprang up and I have been… I believe the Earth expression is “putting out fires” ever since.
Please forgive me.
My spiral suddenly feels so silly.
There’s nothing to forgive.
He doesn’t owe me anything outside of the booth, and there… he only owes me money for services rendered.
But I didn’t like that feeling. And Iamglad that he let me know what happened.
I will admit…
Even if I shouldn’t.
I was a little worried that seeing me had turned you off. And you’d decided that I wasn’t what you were looking for in your limited down time.
He went to the booth for a reason… and we’re already passing so many boundaries. A handful of days… that’s all it took for me to literally bare myself to him.
You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Cherry. If Phantom put you in ad campaigns for the club, they would have to purchase another ring for the station to meet demand for human companions.
If I had not been called away, I might have asked for more time with you. But… the needs of the many…
I’m sorry your job is so stressful.
As am I.
I’ve removed all of my privacy restrictions.
I blink at the text.What?
A new button appears beside his name. A familiar “i” in a circle…
You don’t have to look at the information. But it’s there. If you want anything from me, you can have it.
I stare at the words for a few moments. All my questions and concerns would vanish if I tap it.
So why does having the information at my fingertips scare me more than not having access did?
I don’t open it.
Thank you.
