Page 116 of Debugging Love

“I woke up using him as a body pillow. What do you think?”

“Was it a good kiss?”

“I’m the first person he’s ever kissed.”

Her excitement dissipates. “So it was bad?”

I flop onto my back and sigh. “It was amazing.”

Morgan starts bouncing up and down. I peer at her. “And how was Drew?”

She bounces higher.

I squeeze my eyes shut. “This is a disaster.”

“Why?” She’s jiggling the entire bed, her excitement causing a mini earthquake.

“We’re on a work trip. They’re our coworkers.”

“Our hot coworkers.”

I peer at Morgan again. “Drew isDrew.”

“I knowww,” Morgan says, swooning.

I chuckle at her and then grab my phone and check the time. “The first sessions start in half an hour!”

Morgan jumps off the bed. “I call shower!”

She’s in there for five minutes. I take a turn, and then we slap on some makeup, gather our things, and meet the guys in the lobby.

Chai World, Day 2, is similar to Day 1. The same suspects, same plot, only today I feel about ten pounds lighter and I can’t shake this warm tingly feeling. It lingers all day and into the van for the drive home. Chance and I share smiles as we climb into the front. He doesn’t even ask me if he can play his country. However, when Morgan and Drew start kissing in the back, I say loudly, “Wanna listen to something?”

He picks normal country that has a rock vibe. No cow tipping bingo included, so I can handle it. After a half an hour of listening to his music, I get to choose the next half hour, and so on and so forth, except for potty breaks (at legitimate restrooms and rest stops) and a quick dinner that we order from the drive-through.

By the time Chance drops me off, I’m beat. He helps me drag my luggage up the steps and we part ways, no kissing, shy smiles only. I don’t bother unpacking, just flop face-first onto my bed and sleep without changing my clothes.

The next morning, I’m exhausted but I force myself to shower and eat something. Strangely, Chance and I don’t leave for work at the same time. His car is still parked in his spot, so I shoot him a text. When he doesn’t answer, I shrug and drop my car into drive. It was a long trip yesterday. I don’t blame him for taking the day off.

At work, I download my notes from Chai World and begin crafting mind-numbingly boring PowerPoint slides. I’d make them interesting if I could, but the subject matter makes it impossible.

At quarter after ten, Chance’s body arrives. His head, I’m not so sure. I assume it’s there, but it’s in some kind of pillow with eyeholes. He sits and logs in like there’s nothing strange going on.

“You under there?” I ask.

I hear a muffled mmm-hmmm in response.

“And what exactly are you wearing?”

“An Ostrichpillow.” Still muffled.

“Any reason?”

“It filters out the noise on top of the noise. Also, if I need a nap, no one will know I’m asleep sitting up.”

“We have a meeting in fifteen minutes. You gonna wear that thing?”

“Mmm-hmmm.”

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