Page 5 of The Puck Secret

I’m not surprised by their question, it is kind of weird to talk to someone without so much as exchanging names, but I kind of like the anonymity of it all.

Maddie: Just a lonely girl who should check numbers twice before I text them

A little bit of an insight to who I am, that will hopefully placate them enough until our interaction ends.

Unknown: A girl huh? Are you hot?

I bark a laugh before I can stop myself, I guess I’m talking to a boy, because I doubt a girl would say that. Not unless they play for the same team, which I’m not sure I can say is my thing, but I’d never say never. I’ll try anything once. I fire off another message and take another sip of my drink.

Maddie: I guess I don’t need to ask if you’re a guy ?? That was such a dude's response!

When his response comes through rapidly, my cheeks hurt from the smiling, my body not entirely used to the feeling.

Unknown: You’re definitely hot! I can tell ??

Texting now I know he’s a guy kind of feels like flirting. It’s light and playful, and definitely improves the mood of my shitty night. I feel daring as I tap out another message, this whole thing so unlike me, but it seems after my shit show of a night, I can’t help myself.

Maddie: And you’re a charmer!

Bradley hasn’t charmed me once in the couple of months we have been forced to date, so it’s nice to know that somewhere, out in the world, there are guys who can make a girl smile. I quickly save his number under a new contact as another message pops up.

The Lonely Charm: What’s your name?

It would be easy to respond with an answer, and if this guy lives in town, it wouldn’t be hard for him to know who I am, but enough people already know who I am. Or who they think I am. I have no interest in adding another person to that list.

Maddie: No names, just conversation.

This is just for tonight after all, just one wrong number conversation and then we will go back to living our separate, unknown lives tomorrow.

The Lonely Charm: A little mystery, I like that in a girl. How about just your age then?

Another laugh leaves me because he’s right, when I got his message my first thought was serial killer. Now I could be here flirting with someone who could be anywhere between twelve and ninety.

Maddie: I just turned 20 a few weeks ago, what about you?

I start immediately praying that I haven’t been sharing my secrets with someone who isn’t even old enough to drive, and I practically break my finger swiping open the next message in the thread.

The Lonely Charm: How convenient Grim, I’m also 20, nearly 21 ??

I roll my eyes at his playfulness, but I can’t deny the relief I feel when he confirms his age. Maybe he’s lying, maybe it’s a coincidence, but I don’t see why he wouldn’t be honest, that’s what this whole conversation is about.

Maddie: And a charmer like you wouldn’t lie to me right?

Regret churns in my stomach when I hit send on that question, but I guess it’s instilled in me to believe the worst in people. That way they can’t let you down. His response is instant.

The Lonely Charm: Never ever Grim! I promise

I stare at the words for longer than necessary, but I can’t remember a time when someone has just offered me such a simple promise. My own father can’t even be honest with me, but some stranger I don’t even know offers it without pause, it leaves a sick taste in my mouth.

Maddie: You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep

My fingers hover over the send button for a little while, and by the time I hit it a full ten minutes have passed. I watch my phone closely, waiting for it to light up, but it doesn’t, and when it plunges itself back into darkness, I can’t help but feel lonely and empty all over again.

Just like every other night.

Apounding on my door startles me awake, and I lift my head half way off my pillow, squinting at the light pouring into my window. Fuck, I don’t even remember falling asleep last night. The clock on my nightstand reads 6.07am, and I flop my head back down and groan. I am usually up and ready to tackle another day of working towards my goal, but right now my head feels like a truck ran over it.

“Don’t make me break down the door, Darkmore!” Archer’s muffled voice grunts from the other side, his fist pounding against the wood for a second time. It can’t possibly be time for our morning run already, I feel like I just closed my eyes. But when he pounds a third time, I know I have to get up before the fucker breaks down the door.It wouldn’t be the first time.

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