Page 6 of The Naga

I chuckled at his answer, then had to answer another customer query. I heard my phone buzz with another incoming message, but I didn't check it until I'd finished my conversation with the customer.

Khush: Since Scrappy won't allow you to answer any other way, how about your second-favorite animal?

Smiling, I took a glance at my computer screen, and when I saw no new open chats, I quickly sent him a reply.

Me: You'll think I'm weird if I tell you. Most people do.

Khush: I'm not like most people. Try me.

Oh, as if I hadn't heard that before. Still, I answered his question, but then I had to handle another customer support request, and this one took longer than the last one.

When I finally got a chance to look at my phone, I found a text from Khush waiting.

Khush: Really? You like snakes??

Me: Yeah, yeah. I know it's weird, but I think they're cute. They're also very adaptable. Did you know there are snakes on all continents except Antarctica? How cool is that?

Me: There are like more than 4000 species of snake!

I dropped my phone onto my desk before I bombarded Khush with snake facts, then shook my head at myself. I had a habit of getting unnecessarily passionate when talking about snakes, and I needed to get myself under control before I scared him off.

My phone was silent for a while, and I managed to deal with a total of five customers—and successfully freak out about scaring the hottest man alive away—before my phone buzzed again.

Khush: Sorry, I had to take care of something. Oh, did you know snakes swallow their food? They don't chew at all!

I chuckled. Maybe I wasn't the only one with an interest in snakes. What were the chances of two snake-lovers like us bumping into each other? Someone up there really must be looking out for me.

I didn't believe in God per se, but I liked to think there was something bigger than us, some universal power that kept the world going. It could be science, or some mythical being, or magic, but I was sure there wassomething.

Me: I know! Their stomach does all the work. I wish I could do that sometimes. Then I'd stuff all my food in within minutes and spend the rest of my lunch break taking a well-deserved nap.

Khush: Sounds like an apt use of the ability :p

I smiled, and I was just about to put my phone away to answer another customer query when it buzzed again.

Khush: Hey, Dustin, would you like to go out with me sometime?

I blinked at Khush's text, then smiled widely. I might've squealed a little. It was certainly loud enough to startle Scrappy, who shot to her feet, then jumped off her cardboard tree, shot me a lethal look, and stalked off to go nap somewhere else. Probably at her perch by the window.

Me: Yes! I'd love to!

My phone was silent for a while, and I took the chance to help the customer, my ears firmly focused on my phone.

When it buzzed again, I groaned softly as my fingers flew over the keyboard, wishing the customer would hurry up. Were they typing slowly just to torture me?

The chat finally ended after what felt like hours, and I almost dropped my phone in my hurry to check Khush's text.

Khush: Okay, I have a confession to make. I haven't really been out much. Like, at all. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to plan where we go and what we do?

Another message came in as I was reading the first one, and I could almost feel Khush's nerves through it.

Khush: Dustin? Was that too much to ask?

I hurried to reply, not wanting him to think I wasn't interested.

Me: No, not at all! That's completely fine. Maybe we could watch a movie? There's this new rom-com I've been planning to go see.

Khush: Sounds good. It's actually on my list. But I can't get out of my wheelchair (I have to be properly strapped in and it's too much trouble to do it again and again. It's a whole thing) so would that work?

---