Page 17 of Untamed

I grab the first mask that comes to hand and slide it over my head.

One more for the sake of the memories.

I hold up my coffee.

My time here has come to an end, beautiful. I have work to do, and this is all too distracting.

I shake my head in mock sadness, though, honestly, it’s not much for show. For the past few nights, interacting with Ember online, with her sharp wit and tongue, it felt a little less… lonely.

But I have to stop this before I get in real trouble. Before Rafail finds out.

I grab a quick soundtrack. I don’t edit my videos. I like ’em raw and untamed. I post the video and toss my phone down.

I watch it come on the screen.

I sigh.

I already have fifty likes and half as many comments.

I smile to myself over them.

So we’re just ignoring the fact that you woke up looking like a Roman god, huh?

I shake my head bashfully. Well, I wouldn’t gothatfar.

This is illegal levels of fine. I’m calling the authorities (aka myself).

That coffee is lucky. Wish I was that close to your lips.

Not Ember, so… down girl.

Do you come with a warning label, or do we just combust silently over here?

I scratch my chest with a self-deprecating shrug. Well, thanks.

Still no Ember.

I don’t care about them. It’s cute and even sweet, but I don’t care who these women are. Even if they were half as into me as they play-act behind the safety of a keyboard… they’re nother.

I should be deleting this.

Still… she hasn’t responded in hours.

Wait. Is she alright?

My heart rate spikes.

I quickly tap the messages on the app and open to the last chat we had.Twelve hours ago.There’s nothing to indicate she’s been online since then.

What the fuck?

I go to her page and see she uploaded a video just before messaging me and hasn’t been online since.

Along the bottom of the video, little messages pop up with hearts and arrows and likes while I’m scrolling the latest comments.

Don’t listen to that asshole, Mafia Queen! Delete his ass and block him!

No one should talk to my bestie like that. Let me at him, sister!

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