Crossed Keys

Chapter Two - Strike

I flopped in the overstuffed chair and closed my eyes. I wasn't sure how I got through the day—maybe it was because my best friend Bright took pity on me, took the day away from his firm to stop by and help me.

He jumped in on stocking supplies, then changed into all black and moved behind the bar. I hated being short staffed, but when I was with a bartender, Bright stepped him.

He enjoyed working as a bartender again.

It'd been a long day. First an overnight shipment, then day of interviews to replace the two servers who'd quit on me without notice. I understood they wanted to go back to school, but they could have told me, given me time to get it together.

"You should get some sleep." Bright told me. "I'm heading home."

"I can't sleep yet." I sighed, closing my eyes again.

"Talking to your boyfriend tonight?"

"He's not my boyfriend." I groaned, looking up at him.

Bright was tall, good looking with dark hair, strange grey eyes and a proud nose. Even being that good looking, there wasn't an ego about him.

"And yes, in a few minutes."

"Why don't you just send him a picture of yourself?" Bright wanted to know. "And tell him you want to date him. I mean, how long can you keep talking to someone in this day and age and not know what they look like. He could be a bass fish."

I arched a brow. "A what now?"

"A bass fish?" Bright shrugged. "Isn't that what it is?"

"I don't—"

Bright sighed. "You know? You're talking to someone you think is twenty five, good looking and available and it turns out to be some fifty year old with a wife and two point five kids living in his grandfather's basement."

I laughed. "Jesus, Bright. It's Catfish."

"Same thing—a fish is a fish."

"Go home." I laughed until I snorted. "You're tired."

Bright reached over to kiss the side of my head and headed out.

Watching after him, I couldn't help laughing and shaking my head.

But Bright had a point. I'd been talking to Dash for a few years now and he was still uncomfortable with us knowing what each other looked like. Deep down I could feel myself on the brink of falling for this guy, but what he looked like was important. I understood his fear, but I yearned to know what he looked like so I could put a face on the man in my dreams.

Sighing, I felt around in my pocket for my phone to check the time. It was almost seven.

Rushing to the bathroom, I used it, washed my hands and face, then patted my cold palms to my forehead and cheeks.

At seven, I flopped to my back and opened the app on my phone. I sent him a greeting and waited.

But twenty minutes later, there was no response.

Had I scared him again with my talk about a spanking? I wasn't even sure why I said that. I didn't know what he looked like, and Dash still turned me on. Before speaking to him, I never read. Other than books for school and to do with business and recipes.

Then I realized he read—a lot. That he loved books, no matter what topic but he especially loved science fiction—anything to do with the stars and space.

I started reading because of him and before I knew it, I was in love with the hobby.

Forty minutes and no reply.