Page 12 of Moth to a Flame

So yeah, I told my parents about signing up for Moth to a Flame and they supported me. I was so excited when I took that first step. Since then, I’ve been losing hope. I started to worry that I was the problem. That no one, out of all these men, wants me.

Two weeks of being active on their website and the only man who was suggested and actually talked to me was Marshall. Clayton doesn’t count. A day after his profile popped on my screen, he blocked me.

Back to Marshall.

I’ve waited for him to take charge, to be the one to approach me. How can he dominate me if he can’t sayhi, right?

Tonight, he did that. Passed the first test. Unfortunately, after talking to him, it’d become blatantly clear that he wasn’t the one for me.

Five minutes have come and gone since I sent him that message.

I wait a little longer.

Ten and still no sign of life from Marshall.

Maybe that’s his way of dealing with rejection. Ghosting me.

Fine by me. Being ignored sure beats being called a stuck-up bitch.

Now what? Sleep is out of the question. The whole situation with Marshall left me antsy.

Reading is just as impossible. I have about a hundred pages left to finish my monthly book club choice, but my mind is a mess.

Only thing left to do is go outside for a walk. Not by myself. Not this late at night. Hell no.

Mojo, Rosemary’s St. Bernard and my dog-nephew, will come with me. Between the two of us and my Ruger, we should be okay. We always are.

I unfold myself from the chair, pull on my light navy sweater. My socks, and sneakers. My Ruger slips into the pocket in my concealment leggings. After locking up behind me, I walk across the hall.

The adorable St. Bernard welcomes me as soon as I’m inside Rosemary’s apartment. He wags his tail, shoving his nose into my legs.

“Hey there, doggo.” I bend to rub him behind his ears just the way he likes it. “Up for a late-night walk?”

Woof!

“Knew you would.” It’s impossible not to laugh at that. He’s too adorable. “Let’s go.”

“Regan?” My sister shuffles on bare feet to the living room, hugging her arms around her oversized T-shirt. Her red hair, the one feature that sets us apart, tumbles down her front. “Can’t sleep?”

“Yes. Sorry.” Mojo doesn’t leave my side when I head to where Rosemary hangs his collar and leash at night. He lifts his face to me so I can put the collar on him, his large brown eyes smiling at me. “For waking you up.”

“Nonsense. I can tell something’s bothering you.” Her hand waves in a dismissive gesture. “Want to talk about it? I’ll make tea. You don’t have to be by yourself.”

“I’m good.” Other than the fact that no one out of the millions of people on Moth to a Flame is remotely interested in me. No,that’s okay too. I will not feel bad just because I’m unmatchable. “The guy, from the dating website—”

“Was he being an ass?” She cocks a hip to the side and scowls.

“No, he was actually not that bad.”

“Let me have at him.” Righteousness flashes behind her brown eyes, even in the dark apartment. “I’ll tell the fucker exactly what I think about him.”

Woof, woof!

“Good boy.” I pat his head. Mojo doesn’t approve of either of us being upset. “I’m sure your momma didn’t mean to go all Carrie on us.”

“Regan.” The movie reference doesn’t amuse her. “I’m being serious.”

“He’s not the one for me.” I walk Mojo over to her, crossing the kitchen that’s identical to mine, and press a peck on her cheek. “That’s it. And this.” I raise Mojo’s leash. “I can’t sleep. Need to get some fresh air. Please, go back to bed. You don’t want to show up to work with black circles under your eyes.”

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