Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Ember
I laid back down against my pillows and stared at the ceiling, a wistful smile spreading across my face.
I picked up my pillow and clutched it to my chest. Tingles ran down my spine.
He wanted to meet. That was evident in his messages towards the end of the night.
Sitting up and throwing the covers to the side, I hopped out of bed, took a quick trip to the bathroom, then grabbed my laptop and climbed back under the covers.
The screen opened to our messages on full display. And there was already a new one from this morning.
ITBeastMan: Good morning beautiful. I got maybe an hour of sleep before my alarm blared painfully. I may need to take a nap later. Or cut out early. Enjoy your day off (Lucky!) -Khai
My heart pumped hard in my chest. My body reacted simply from his words. What would it be like to see him in person?
I shifted in bed, pulling my knees up to rest my laptop against my thighs. As I began to type out a response, a single thought jarred me and my fingers froze, hovering above the keys.
It was my sister’s pictures he saw. While we resembled each other, we didn’t look exactly alike. I couldn’t deceive him.
But who said it was going any further than a few messages?
Spicysugar: Good morning! I won’t tell you I just woke up (whoops lol) but yeah, safe to say I didn’t get in a morning walk. Have a great day at work!
I hit send and toggled over to my email, thumbing through the hundreds of unread ones when a new message pinged.
Already? Isn’t he at work?
Though he works on a computer…
ITBeastMan: And the princess awakes from her slumber. Finally. I missed you.
A grin takes over my face.
Spicysugar: Aw, I missed you too. Were you waiting for me to send a message?
ITBeastMan: I can’t lie. I was on the edge of my seat.
My heart beat loudly in my ears. Tingles ran through me everywhere.
Spicysugar: I mean, I did wake up and immediately grab my laptop.
ITBeastMan: I can’t stop thinking about you. I know this might sound forward but have dinner with me. Please. I need to meet you. See if this connection I’m feeling is there in person.
Shit, it was happening already. He wanted to meet.
What do I do? Confess now and send a picture? Or wait to explain it in person?
Spicysugar: Yes, I’ll have dinner with you. Name the time and place.
ITBeastMan: I’d really like to cook for you. Would you be okay showing up to my place? If it feels too sketchy, we can meet up in public first.
Spicysugar: Are you in Appleridge?
ITBeastMan: The next town over, Apple Falls.
Spicysugar: Okay.
What was I doing? This was crazy.
But I couldn’t say no. I couldn’t miss the chance to meet him and see if this was real.
ITBeastMan: You can be my mail order bride. Except I’m ordering you over for dinner.
Spicysugar: LOL. If only it were that easy to find a bride.
ITBeastMan: There’s some profiles on here that are strictly looking for marriage, but I can’t imagine just “ordering” someone.
Spicysugar: Me either.
We finished chatting, Khai revealing he was on his lunch break, saving it for when I was available to talk. We made plans for dinner later tonight and he gave me his address. When I plugged it into the Maps app on my phone, I saw he was about ten minutes away.
This was crazy. So crazy. But I was taking the risk and diving in. Isn’t that what life was all about?
“What do you mean you’re going to this stranger’s house for dinner? What happened to meeting in public first?!” Dottie exclaimed when I told her about my dinner plans. She liked to cook and often did most days, so I wanted to give her the heads up I wasn’t eating.
“It’s fine. I have pepper spray in my purse. He enjoys cooking and wants to make me dinner.”
“Yes, but that usually happens later on. You should meet at a restaurant or a public place. It’s the safest way.”
“Dottie, trust me. I have a good feeling about this one. He’s so charming and sweet. But if I see any red flags, I’ll leave, okay?”
My best friend of many years eyeballed me suspiciously. “This isn’t usually how you do things, Em. I’m worried. You need to be careful.”
“Listen, we only live once. What is life without taking a few risks?”
“I’m coming with you.”
I laughed. “No! Imagine mail order brides. They show up on the doorstep ready to marry whoever answers the door.”
Dottie tilted her head to the side. “That’s insane. Anyways, I’m going with you.”
I almost snorted my drink. “What? You can’t.”
“Sats who? The date police? I’m going.”
“You can drive by. Stop in for a quick meet.”
“Now you’re talking. What about the pictures? Did you tell him?”
“No. I figured it would be better if I explained it in person.”
“Okay. Hopefully he understands.”
“I hope so.”
After showering and fussing over my clothes, hair, and makeup for over an hour, I was finally ready to go.
Dottie met me by the door. “You look beautiful. If he doesn’t realize that he’s not a keeper. Now go. I’m following behind.”
I laughed. “You’re not going.” I took her keys and purse and set them back down on the entryway table.
“Yes, I am. I need to scope out the place and feel the vibes. Then I’ll leave.”
“Fine.” I marched outside to my car and got in. Less than ten minutes later, I pulled into the driveway of a very private, very secluded cabin, deep in the woods of the mountain.
I looked over the area and glanced in my rear-view mirror, seeing Dottie parked way at the end.
Dottie: So far so good. Go on in. I’m going to wait here a while.
Me: Okay
I climbed out of my car and headed to the front door, a bundle of nerves sitting heavily in the pit of my stomach.
I shook my hands out as I closed the distance, sheer panic rushing through me.
What if he looked nothing like his photos? What if he wasn’t anything I expected?
With one last look back at Dottie, I climbed the front steps and stood in front of the door. The place was warm and cozy looking, well taken care of and done with love.
Before I had the chance to lift my hand and knock on the door, it flew open.
The most handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on stood in the doorway.
Holy shit.
My breath caught in my throat, and I blinked, but nope, he was still just as hot as he was a second ago.
When our eyes met, fireworks went off in my head.
“Ember? Is that you?” He asked with a warm, friendly smile.
Shit! He noticed!
I nodded and darted my eyes away. “Listen, I can explain…”
“Explain what?” Khai took a step closer and my insides went haywire.
“I know I don’t look exactly like the pictures you saw. Turns out it was my sister’s old profile but once we got talking, I—”
Khai placed one finger over my lips. “Shh, baby girl. I don’t care. You’re fucking perfect.”
And then he kissed me.