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Another couple of minutes pass and I find my attention fixed on my phone, hoping he texts back. The feeling is foreign and uncomfortable. I chalk it up to remnants of adrenaline from our jump in the pond, and not anything any more emotional than that.
Gary:How did it feel?
Me:I don’t know how to describe it.
Me:Amazing?
Gary:Like the first taste of ice cream in the summer. Like reading a good book with a surprising ending. Like the exact moment when you realize your favorite song is playing in the bar. Like fresh rain on your skin when you’re caught in a storm at night.
Gary:Like that?
My breath hitches as I read his words. He captured the feeling so perfectly.
Nera:Yes.
Nera:Exactly like that.
Gary:Good girl.
I don’t know why my face flushes reading his words. I’m not sure what he’s praising me for, but I like it.
I feel more than see Thayer look over my shoulder at my phone, and then I hear her ask, “Who’s Gary?”
My heart momentarily stops in my chest. Relief crushes me when I realize I never updated his name in my phone. In this situation, I thank my lucky stars for that bit of luck.
“No one,” I say, darkening the screen.
“See we knew you were talking to someone,” she says with a smirk before putting her hands up. “You don’t have to tell us anything, but we’ll be here when you’re ready.”
Six nods and gives me a wink.
Both of them are keeping their respective Rhys and Phoenix cards close to their chests, so they know not to push.
“Come on, let’s go home. I promised you hot chocolate.”
Six squeals happily in response. I zip my jacket over my towel to keep my bits covered so I don’t end up tits out behind the wheel.
I park in front of our apartment and we grab our things and get out. I check my phone and see I have a missed text from Tristan.
Gary:Did you have dinner?
My heart lurches at the question. He’d been unusually insistent about me taking his protein bar earlier. He has no reason to suspect anything is wrong with me, and yet something about that interaction made me feel like he was watching me.
I decide to deflect with humor.
Me:Yes I did, Dad.
Gary:Don’t give me any ideas about making you call me Daddy.
I swallow thickly, my throat suddenly dry. The door hitting my arm as it closes snaps me out of it.
“Oh, careful! Sorry Ner, I thought you were looking,” Six says apologetically as she opens it back for me.
“My fault, I was distracted,” I say, easily.
I’m not going to answer. I follow them up the stairs and to our apartment when my phone dings again.
Gary:Where’s my picture?
