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Orchid Mantis:I take it you have someone you like?
Oh, boy. This may get awkward.
Purple Puppy:Maybe? Doesn’t feel right to say for certain when I don’t really know him. I want toknow him. I also want to have an epic romance with someone.
Purple Puppy:Only he doesn’t know I exist. And I’m starting to think maybe he never will. It’s a lost cause at this point.
Orchid Mantis:You should talk to him.
Purple Puppy:You sound like my best friend.
Orchid Mantis:Your best friend sounds smart.
I look over at Jesse, texting away with a huge grin on his face. Probably hitting up another girl he met at the store. At least he won’t complain about me being on my phone when he’s taking a break to do the same.
Purple Puppy:I’ve got to go for now, but I’ll talk to you again when I get home. Still wrapping it up here.
Orchid Mantis:I’m looking forward to it.
And I realize too late he could’ve construed my last message as a slight innuendo, but Mantis is not that kinda guy. He’s really going to want to talk to me about mostly normal things. I saymostlysince we have dipped into sexual conversations a bit, but hey, that’s part of being responsible, too. And really, that’s what he seems like—an actual adult. Whereas I’m that dog in the burning room telling himself everything is fine. I have no idea what in the hell I’m doing and I’m starting to believe I’llnever have my shit together. I can’t even imagine what a guy like Mantis sees in me.
Chapter three
Cas
The day has warmed significantly from late summer sunshine, but the leaves will be changing any time now. I’m still outside and not yet in my house when my phone dings again. Ahh, PP. You might not like your username, but I find it entertaining—as much as I find you.
Purple Puppy:I should’ve asked how your day was earlier.
Purple Puppy:So, how has your day been?
And a smiley. How sweet.
Orchid Mantis:I’ve had better.
Orchid Mantis:You’re right. Talking to guys is hard. Except maybe you. Less hard.
Purple Puppy:I make you less hard?
Orchid Mantis:That’s yet to be determined.
Purple Puppy:Oh my gosh, I need to know how you imagine me.
Purple Puppy:Or a guess, at least. As vague or specific as you want to get.
Hmm. Time to cheat. The app lets you list as much or as little about yourself as you want. Mine’s blank. I prefer making people work for their tidbits. It builds trust and makes them feel special when I do share. As for him, I’ve checked his user profile before and not much of what he has on his page is helpful. I’m hoping to find something I may have missed last time. Never know when something may jump out at you.
He’s near me. Doesn’t say exactly where, but within the closest search radius. No age. Average height and weight. No pictures. Not much of anything, really. Well, I do like a challenge.
Orchid Mantis:You converse like you’re young, like in your twenties, but the things you talk about aren’t school or hookups but work and friends. You’re fun, but you want to be responsible. Like you don’t think of yourself as a real adult yet. Closer to thirty than twenty, most likely.
Purple Puppy:…
Purple Puppy:I was expecting something a lot more pervy.
Purple Puppy:And not quite that spot on.
Orchid Mantis:You don’t like pervy.
