“Sometimes, yes. I’ll look into it.”
Thank God. I almost let out a sigh of relief.
“I’d really like that.” I pulled my phone away from my ear and sent him a link to the group. “Let me know if you see something fun.”
“I doubt there’ll be anything that good,” he muttered. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I am. I think I just need time alone. Introducing myself was scary, but I wanted to do it.” I wouldn’t mention howheset off my anxiety too. The last thing I wanted was for him to feel bad about it.
“And you’re taking time for yourself?”
“Yep. Just chilling in my apartment. It’s quiet here.”
“Good. That’s what you should do. But call me if something else happens.”
“I will.”
Joey said his goodbyes before I was left in the silence of my apartment. I let my face fall into my pillow. My heart was pounding from simply posting in a Facebook group and talking to my friend.
I wassotired of feeling anxious, and now it had bled into my conversation with Joey. If there were a way I could trade it all away, I would. Living in fear was miserable.
That was when my phone buzzed. I was tempted to ignore it in favor of screaming, but I slowly looked up.
Theo
I’m guessing that messaging the group wasn’t easy. Are you okay?
“Oh my God,” I muttered, sitting up. Was I dreaming? Or did Theoactuallytext me?
Piper
You guessed right. Sorry I didn’t come in, by the way.
Theo
I’m gonna go bankrupt, but I’ll forgive you.
Despite myself, I laughed. I knew it was a joke. There was no way he was hurting for money with how many people I saw going in and out of the shop. Theo didn’t seem like the kind of man capable of joking, but deep down under those tattoos, he was a sweetheart.
I’d done additional digging on him to find out more. There was nothing in the Facebook group and even less on his profile. I knew he didn’t date, but with his looks, personality, and grammar skills?
He could find someone easily.
I was tempted to let it be me, but there was no way he’d have any interest. He made it clear he thought I was young, which was correct, and no matter how much I wanted to, dating wouldn’t go well for me. Not until I got my shit together.
But I could flirt. I could hang onto our little moments and write them into my next book. It gave me life.
Piper
I’ll make up for it tomorrow. Promise.
10
THEO
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Dale Garrett:WHO took my spot in front of Food ‘n’ Things??
