Page 65 of Caught A Vibe

“Deal.”

I snuggle into my couch with a throw blanket and my phone, using Dash’s thigh as a pillow. Opening up my social media apps, I scroll the feeds, deliberately sticking to my personal accounts. News of pregnancies and pandemic pups gives me the smiles I need. I just want to turn off the business brain for a while. Unfortunately, news stories creep in around the edges, and after reading about spiraling Covid shutdowns and cruise ships being kept at sea, I tap out and close my eyes. Maybe sleep will help me shed some stress. At least until Dash is free.

Chapter17

Dash

Iwrap up my article and glance at the clock. Shit. I got lost in an image search for green screen background replacements, and now I’ll barely make my deadline. Callie has returned from her pout and is conked out, draped over my shoulder, and Penny is fast asleep on my thigh.

Given the hour, I let them both sleep and keep working so I won’t disturb them. Penny looks so peaceful curled up next to me. I’m tempted to brush a curl away from her cheek, but I know I will not stop touching her if I start. I keep my hands to myself.

Besides, my mind is finally in a work groove. Might as well ride it out until it fizzles. The chores I still need to do today and my plans for Penny fade from my mind as I shift into excitement over a fresh challenge that will actually help people, as opposed to the fluff articles I’ve been turning in lately.

I log into her website host and begin structuring the platform to contain the preorder videos she wants. I set up the password page with an age verification to keep out minors and begin designing the actual pages of what I hope will become a community forum.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a place where people could talk to each other about their experiences and connect through shared pleasure? And an FAQ section for sure. A video library. Links to the customer service department. A tagging system to make searching easier. A connection to their point-of-sale email so that every order confirmation email will go out with a link to set up their login and a discount code on their next purchase for doing so.

My list of things to build and design is growing, but I want this portal to be robust and flexible for her to use long into the future. I won’t always be able to help with coding, so I need to give her a solid start to grow into.

Where did that thought come from?

Why am I already thinking about a time when I won’t be here?

This is the happiest I’ve ever been in a relationship. And in the middle of a global pandemic, that’s really saying something. But that old doubt creeps up the back of my throat, burning a path of bile. No other relationship has ever lasted. I’ve always been too much to handle for the long haul. Penny will come to her senses and realize she deserves better, because she absolutely does. She deserves the world, and I’d give it to her if I could. But I can’t. I’m not built for forever.

But as long as she is happy, I am happy. I won’t borrow trouble tonight.

My eyes droop and I blink hard to wake myself back up. How long have I been drifting? A glance at the clock shows it is now nearly two, and my brain has finally run dry. Carefully setting my laptop to the side, I hold Penny’s head steady as I slip my thigh from beneath her and stand. I stretch to make sure my legs are awake, scoop her up off the couch, and carry her to the bedroom.

The way she snuggles into my chest makes me feel like a hero. Yeah, I’m going to hold on to this feeling for as long as I can.

“Hmmm, wha’ time zit?” Penny asks on a yawn.

“It’s late. Go back to sleep.”

“What about the movie?”

“You need sleep more. We’ll watch it tomorrow.”

“M’kay.” Her sleepy disappointment tugs at my heart.

I lay her down and carefully tuck her in, this time not repressing the desire to brush her hair back. She smiles and rolls over, already asleep. Shucking my clothes, I climb in on my side, smug that I have a side, and close my eyes.

Penny

Igroan as I wake and reach for my phone, which isn’t on its charger. Right, because I fell asleep on the couch. Dash probably hadn’t noticed it. I have no idea what time it is, but the sun peeking through my curtains tells me I’m late. Again.

What is it about Dash that makes me sleep so much better than usual? Careful not to wake him, I sneak into the living room and gasp at the clock. I slept for over ten hours! That has to be some kind of record since becoming an entrepreneur. I go cushion diving and find my phone. Completely dead.Great.

I set it on the charger while I make coffee. Before I even add my cream and sugar, my phone is buzzing to life with notifications. I scroll through them as I mainline my hot caffeine.

This is why I don’t sleep.

Fuck.

A message from Zarah about the price of gasoline and silicone fluctuating and eating into profit margins.

An email from Jennifer about a shipment we are expecting from the manufacturer, stuck on a boat that isn’t being allowed to dock because of active COVID onboard.

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