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Thanks, babe. I made this one just for you.I smile to myself and sigh while staring at the screen. He’s a romantic, and he wants a fellow romantic.
Lucky for him, this is my favorite part. The gaps between men have always been about holding out for that special someone and refusing to settle for availability or convenience. I can and have waited much longer before, since I refuse to quit once I set my sights on someone.
What I won’t do is spend all my time and energy trying to get him to hook up with me because I don’t need to. I’m going to make him want me. To come to me. To go out of his mind trying to figure out what I’m thinking and what his next move should be. He is going to pursue me like mad, and I’m going to love every minute of it.
Orchid Mantis:I like talking to you, too. Which is why I expect you to message me again soon. Not right now, though. I need to take care of the animals.
Purple Puppy:You said you didn’t have pets!
Orchid Mantis:I don’t. It’s, well… essentially a farm. They’re working animals. But I do care about them, which is why I care for them.
Purple Puppy:Oh! That’s another thing we have in common. I work for a farm, too. Not on the farm, though. Mostly stocking and running a register. But my boss is a great guy and I like his goats.
Purple Puppy:Anyway, don’t mean to keep you! Until next time.
And a smiley.
Now that is a helpful kernel. Sure, we’re in a rural area, but there are only so many farms around me. Even less with farm stands or stores. And goats. Chickens and cows are pretty common around here, not so much goats. Hmm. He made it sound like a mom-and-pop general store, but goats can mean a shop with artisan crafts like soap.
Well, as much as I want to spend more time on this, I have other responsibilities.
Chapter four
Will
Ican’t focus while at work the following Tuesday. More than likely, Bailey will be the object of my desire forever, but after talking to Mantis the other day… I dunno. I feel almost giddy. He has that effect on me. And I’m really, really digging the “brother’s best friend” comparison. Maybe he wants something more than chatting, and I don’t mean sexting or even hooking up a few times, but an actual relationship… and maybe I’ll want it, too.
Jess comes in while I’m stocking. And by that, I mean he catches me daydreaming while manhandling corn cobs. Wait, no, not like that.
“What’s gotten into you?” Jesse grins.
“I think I really like Mantis,” I say with a smile and a sigh.
“You don’t even know his name,” he scoffs.
“I don’t expect you to understand.” I shake my head and pile more produce on the display.
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot how gay guys are. Anything lasting more than a couple of hours, and he’s the love of your life.”
“No,” I huff. “I don’t expect you to understandromance.”
“I can be romantic.” He smiles.
“Netflix and chill isn’t romantic just because you open a bottle of wine.”
“Okay, but… what happened to your Bailey obsession?”
I shrug. I still like Bailey. And I want to get to know Bailey. But right here, right now… I have Mantis in front of me. And he’s someone I can actually talk to. Even someone I can see potentially liking me back.
“Anyway, I came to remind you that you need to help with the goats tomorrow. I’m off and Lucy’s the only other one on the schedule,” Jesse says.
My face scrunches. “But you’re our animal guy.”
“How? I got hired for the same job as you, yet you always make me go out there while you get to stay inside and cover the register.”
“I don’t live on a dairy farm.”
Technically, his mom and dad’s farm beside acres of woods, but they can’t afford for Jess to move out. He still helps out when he’s not working here and puts part of his paycheck toward paying the bills. All the kids do.
