Page 9 of Starry Night Kisses

Swipe.

“He’s decent looking,” I mumble, shoving the last of my Snickers bar in my mouth. Tilting the phone toward Bagel, I ask, “What do you think?”

Bagel makes a low-pitched whine, slash woof, and shakes his head, sending his floppy ears flying through the air as they slap against his head.

“Well, they can’t all be Eric, okay?” I hit like on the photo and exit out of the SparksFly app.

“Besides, it’s just sex. That’s all I want. No feelings. No strings. I just need to get laid.”

Guilt creeps in as my phone pings, alerting me that the guy whose photo I just liked matched with me.

Things have been a little awkward with Eric after our night of sexting. He was supposed to havereturned to Chicago by now, but got held up in New York for longer than he anticipated.

If anything, it just solidifies that his work is his first priority, as it should be, honestly. But at this point, he’s told me he’s coming back three times before turning around and saying he has to stay.

It’s like Steven all over again.

Still, I feel bad. But if I’m being honest with myself, what I need right now is a distraction. I need to be touched andfilledwith no emotions involved.

And Eric is making me feel a whole lot of those lately.

The man is a bonafide golden retriever. Although, he also has the mouth and mind of a Doberman when he wants to exhibit a deeper, darker side that I feel he doesn’t show others much.

I want him.

But he wants a family, and all I have to offer is myself.

My phone pings again, and Bagel lets out a low growl, jumping off the couch and grabbing a toy that he shakes back and forth before plopping down at my feet to gnaw on his squeaky shark.

“Geeze, buddy. Tell me how you really feel.” I open the dating app on my phone to see that the guy who just matched with me has sent me a message.

Message Received

SUBJECT: DINNER?

HI, THERE.

FIRST OFF, I’D JUST LIKE TO SAY YOU'RE GORGEOUS. ACCORDING TO YOUR PROFILE, WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. SO WHAT DO YOU SAY?

DINNER TONIGHT?

I PROMISE I’M NOT A SERIAL KILLER.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

-NATE

“See? This is exactly what I need.”

And you need to make things clear with Eric.

I sigh. The sexting, no matter how good it was, has to be a one-time thing. I have to raise my walls. Have to tell Eric that we’d be better off as friends.

I can’t give him what he needs, and he… Well… I’m not sure he can give me what I need, either. Because I won’t be the clueless partner who sits at home while her significant other is traveling without her and–

Stop it, Evie. Eric wouldn’t do something like that.

“Yeah, I thought that about Steven, too,” I say out loud.

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