Page 7 of Delivered to My Elves

“I can’t get attached,” I said, lifting one of the fragile leaves and admiring its veins of white and pink. “This is going to be harder than we expected.”

“Jumping the gun a little bit, aren’t we?” Callon came into the greenhouse, chuckling.

“Maybe.” I shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe not.”

“I’m trying not to get my hopes up. What if we do, and she doesn’t accept the match?”

I laughed and threw another log into the stove. Who knew one app could change our lives so drastically and in the span of a few days? “I’m more nervous about the prospect that she will.”

“Wait. If you’re scared and worried, why did we do this?”

“Because, Callon, I think that the life we’ve been wanting is on the other side of that fear. It’s not fear, really.” I rubbed my fist into my chest, trying to work myself and my emotions out. “Maybe I’m anxious.”

Callon nodded, making his rounds through the greenhouse, stopping to bend over and get a better look at some things. “How could we not be? We’re on an app, trying to find a female to have sex with for the prospect of having a family but this female won’t be our mate. Do you think that will be a problem? I mean, having sex with someone for a purpose instead of simply for pleasure?”

“If a female is coming here to make a family with us, we’re going to make sure she’s satisfied in the process. You act like we’re robots.”

“I’m just asking all the questions so we will be prepared. She’s going to have questions too, so the more we think about this, the better we will be.”

“Now you’re getting ahead ofyourself, man.”

We went about our normal chores and repotted some things. All the while, I overthought the whole ordeal. Then both our phones beeped at the same time.

“It’s probably the tree farm. Someone didn’t show up for their shift,” I said.

Callon fished his phone from his back pocket and made a noise. “Aerin, you might want to check your app.”

“Why?” I took out my own phone and checked.

“She accepted the match,” we said at the same time.

“Wait a damned minute,” Callon said. “Misty didn’t just accept the match, she sent us a message.”

“What does it say?” I asked even though I had the same information on my phone that he did.

“She wants to talk to us.”

“On the phone? On chat? Video? Did she say?” Again, the answers were right in front of me. But if he confirmed it, it somehow made it real.

“On the phone.” Callon’s tone held an awe I hadn’t heard from him before. “She’s…she wants to talk to us.”

Clearly, both of us were in shock that someone like Misty would want to come into our lives, knowing that there might not ever be love or affection. Perhaps her need for a family and a legacy was as strong as ours and overpowered her need for romance.

“I have to change.” I whirled around, already making my way to the house.

“Why?” Callon laughed hard and loud. “She can’t see you.”

I halted, shaking my head. “Gods, you’re right. We haven’t even heard her voice, and I’m a damned mess.”

“Let me message her back and find out what time would be convenient for her.”

Taking a few deep breaths, I nodded. “Since when are you the levelheaded one?”

“Since now, I guess.”

I walked up to him, watching as he messaged Misty. “It doesn’t matter what time. We’ll talk to her in the middle of the night if she wants.”

He sent the message. I let out a long breath of relief.

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