Page 9 of My Date With A Pair of Gray Sweatpant

“There is something that binds him to that time and place. You will have to find out what it is."

"Before he changed… his mother made him put a ring on and then said—" I stop talking, not wanting to repeat her creepy words.

"What did she say?"

"With this ring, I thee bind."

"That's it then. With him still… attached to you… you’ll have to remove it and say 'with this ring, I thee unbind.' That’s your best shot.”

“Okay, got it. Thank you.” I stand up and realize I have one more question. “What do I do if it doesn’t work?”

She shrugs. “That, I don’t know.”

***

I decide that there’s no point in waiting. If I’m going to do this, I have to do it now. First thing I do is text Dale.

Me: Can you call and make sure I’m up tomorrow morning?

Dale: Sure? You pulling an all nighter?

Me: Sort of. Thanks!

I don’t want to tell him what I’m about to do, but I also don’t want to leave Stanley alone if… I’m not sure what’s at the end of that if. Could Matthew’s mom bind me too? I guess anything is possible. Just because she hasn’t tried so far doesn’t mean it’s outside the realm of possibility.

I take a warm shower, turn the temperature down so I’ll be more comfortable under the blankets, and take some melatonin. I don’t trust full-on sleeping pills for this, but I have to make sure I actually fall asleep.

Eventually I drift off and wake to find Matthew’s sweatpants body pressed up to mine, his arm wrapped around me protectively. It’s sweet, in a way, being cuddled by pants.

“Matthew… Matthew,” I hiss, turning in his embrace and trying to gently shake him awake. “Hmmm…what’s wrong, Kaitlyn?”

“I’m the wrong Kaitlyn, Matthew.” This seems to get something going in his mind.

He huffs a laugh. “If it’s really 2025, then mom’s right and you’re the only Kaitlyn. The other one is still probably pissed at me for disappearing on her.”

“Matthew, we don’t have a lot of time. Do you want out?” I whisper.

That seems to wake him up. “Of course I do.”

“Enough to come to 2025 with me?”

“2025? What do you mean?”

“I mean, if you want, we can try to bring you to my time. It’s not a guarantee. But that’s the only option I have for getting you out of here.”

“Okay, yes, sure. What do I need to do?”

I swallow, suddenly embarrassed. “It wasn’t my idea,” I start.

“What do you mean? You don’t want me to go to 2025?”

I shake my head, painfully aware that I’m wasting time. “No. I spoke to people who could tell by looking at the pants thatyou were bound. A woman told me that just as I leave this place inside the pants…”

“Yeah?”

“The only way for you to leave is inside of me.”

He says nothing for a long moment. “Like?”

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