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“Yeah. And I'll show you some new things too.”
“You're not just saying all this, right?” His voice shook a little.
Wanting to hear him happy and confident again, I replied, “I would never say anything to you that I didn't mean. And when I show up to meet you, you'll have to finally tell me what you do for a living.”
Nine
Nova
I was meeting Franky today. Not only him, but my new customer too. My stomach was a ball of nerves as I rode Girl to the base. When we first arrived, I paced outside the front gate, sweat gathering on my forehead from the heat and my inability to stand still. In just ten minutes I was going to hold someone's hand for the first time. He’d agreed to cuddle through a full movie tomorrow, after I told Henry the small amount of time he gave before wasn't enough.
I slid my hand through my hair and suddenly I didn't want to go through with it. What was I thinking? I'd hold some stranger's hand and then go meet the guy I really wanted to do all this with for a bite of pizza?
Franky had finally agreed to meet me and have pizza together. Holding hands and cuddling could be a possibility too, right?
I wouldn't know until I asked, but what if I was rejected and not only lost my new friend but also my opportunity to ever have that experience?
A knot felt like it had formed in the center of my chest. After a hard look around, I took a deep breath and finally got through the guards after showing my monster ID. I hated the looks they gave me every time, and judging by the uneasiness they had in their eyes I knew I was going to be carefully watched.
“Where you headed today?” one guy in uniform asked and placed a hand on his belt.
“The library and pizza shop.”
He nodded and reached for his walkie-talkie. “Go on then.”
I rushed off toward the library, tugging at my clothes. They were hard to wear, with my skin feeling like it was being rubbed raw.
Then I froze when I saw him. With bright red hair, resembling what I imagined a sunset would look like, a tall man with pale skin turned around, dressed in flannel. He stood on the sidewalk, blocking the light from his eyes. He kept checking his phone and looked as nervous as me. Once he looked up, his blue eyes held on to mine and I nearly lost my breath.
“Are you The Trader?” He looked at his phone again, as if worried he was wrong.
“Yes. And you are?” I tugged at a loose stitch on my wrist. Such a bad habit.
“Franklin. But my friends call me Franky.”
I sucked air through my teeth. “Nice to meet you, Franky.”
He stuck his hand out and I shook it slowly. His hand was so warm and big compared to mine. He was bigger than me everywhere. I bet he was a great cuddler with those strong looking arms. I couldn't wait to find out.
“This what people call a handshake?” I asked, biting on my lower lip.
“Yeah.” He laughed uncomfortably.
I gripped his fingers tighter and kept moving my hand up and down. “I've done it once before, but the man said I wasn't supposed to shake his arm.”
Franky laughed, and I was still in disbelief that he was the doctor I was trading with. The signs had been there, but I’d been confused when someone else showed up with Henry the first time. I wanted to tell him who I was, but maybe I could wait until after he paid me for the mushrooms I was giving him. Unless it wasn't him I was trading with and he’d come here with his friend.
“Handshakes aren't actually supposed to last this long. I think we might already be stepping into hand-holding territory.” He slowly pulled back his hand and shoved it in his pocket.
“Oh. Sorry.” My fingers tingled and they were ready to be on his again.
“No harm done.” His smile was warm and infectious. I felt my lips stretch right along with his.
“So, are you here with Edgar?”
“Edgar?” His eyes squinted.
“Yeah, he was the guy who met me the first time and who I was expecting just now.”
