11
Danny
“Isaid no. Take it down, Vivian,” I say with annoyance in my voice as I reach in an attempt to pull the iPad from her tight grasp, failing miserably.
She giggles as she settles on my tan couch with my iPad in her hands. “Oh, come on. You may thank me for this one later. Maybe your mystery man will see your pictures and reach out.”
I grunt before taking a seat next to her. “But I don’t care who he is anymore. Cole asked me to hang out. He may have not actually called it a date, but it was pretty much implied, wasn’t it?”
Yesterday, when we ran into Cole at the restaurant, I was worried he sat with us only because he didn’t want to hurt our feelings, but that was until he had really seemed to enjoy our company and was laughing at all my jokes, even the really dumb ones. He had seemed to be flirting with me with the constant smiles, winks, and light touching he kept sneaking in. I didn’t mind it one bit. If anything, I wished he would touch me more.
I imagine what it would be like to hold his hand or what it would be like to lean my head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around me. So many things are running through my head that I thought were all impossible until Cole asked me out to dinner. I know my face had to have shown him how shocked and caught off guard I was. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t matter who the stranger is anymore because all I care about is getting to know Cole better.
Vivian brings me out of my thoughts when she hits submit on the new profile she creates for me on Facebook with my profile picture being one she took of her and me that night in our masks, posing with huge smiles on our faces in front of some ridiculous ice sculpture Paul had at the party. She puts the profile under the name James Bishop, which is a combination of my middle name and mother’s maiden name. She fills out all the basic info and hides the remainder of my profile and friends list so if he does see it, he won’t be suspicious of the lack of friends and activity. She loads pictures from the party, making them the only thing public on my timeline, and tags Paul, writing #PaulsNewYearParty before hitting submit.
A notification comes in thirty minutes later. Vivian swipes her finger across the screen to click on the notification that shows Paul liked the pictures she posted. She squeals in excitement, causing me to hold my hands to my ears in an automatic reaction. Paul accepts the photos onto his wall and also adds them to his party album while tagging my name.
Vivian smiles my way. “Now, just give it time. I’m willing to bet Mister Mysterious stranger in the black mask knows Paul more than we do and is sure to notice the photos sooner or later.”
I take a deep breath and sink back into the soft cushions of the couch. All this waiting is going to drive me crazy, and I’m probably waiting for nothing. Vivian grabs my remote to turn on Netflix. "I'm in the mood for a scary movie night," she says before putting on Carrie.
I walk to the kitchen to put the roast I defrosted into the Instant Pot and lay out potatoes and green beans around it. I set it for forty-five minutes and glance at my phone sitting on the counter.
There are no new messages, and I don’t know why I’m expecting any. I just exchanged numbers with the guy recently, and I’m already expecting a text from him. I could always text him first, but that would just make me appear too desperate. I sigh and set my phone back on the counter and walk back over to my friend.
My iPad pings again, and this time I grab it before Vivian can. She scoots closer to me with her head peeking over my shoulder as I swipe the iPad and pull up Facebook. My heart sinks in my chest when the person who liked the photos is Cole. Cole likes my photos.
Vivian looks at the iPad and then to me. “You don’t think—no, it can’t be. Can it?”
Before I can say anything else, a message comes through from Cole. I’m suddenly having a difficult time focusing my eyes on his words.
Cole:Hey there, stranger. Just when I thought I’d never see you again, your pictures pop up in my newsfeed. Still hiding behind a mask, I see.
I swallow the lump in my throat and throw the iPad at Vivian. She gets a better view of the message from Cole and gasps. “Holy cow, your mystery man is Cole!”
I sit there with my back tightly pressed against the couch, speechless. “Do I tell him it was me? What do I do, Vivian?”
“No, not yet. Just play along for a bit. Maybe he never has to know.”
I turn to her with shock apparent on my face with my mouth agape. “You think I should keep this from him when we are supposed to be going on a date soon?”
She nods. “Yes, think about it, Danny. This could give him a different opinion about you and maybe not a good one. It’s better to just start fresh, don’t you think?”
“You’re right. He may not want to go on a date with me if he knows I just throw myself at strangers in masks at parties.”
Wow, the guy I had my one-night stand with was Cole. I don’t have to wonder anymore because I know. I know what it’s like to touch him and to have him touch me. I know what it’s like to have his mouth on mine and how it feels to have him inside me. I grab the iPad and play along like Vivian suggested.
James Bishop:Hello again. I guess I have the upper hand now knowing what you look like, and you still have no clue what I look like, huh? I think I like it this way.
Cole Matthews:Oh, I see what your game is now. I’m not much for games, but I don’t think I’d mind as much if it means I get to play with you again. It’s only a matter of time before I find out. Perhaps that could be soon.
James Bishop:I’m not so sure that’s a good idea, Cole. I think it may be best if things stayed where we last left them, don’t you?
Cole Matthews:Well, that doesn’t sound like any fun. Perhaps I can get you to change your mind.
James Bishop:You can try, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.
I don’t say anything else after that or wait for him to respond. I log off the account and place the iPad on the table by the couch. I sigh loudly. “What am I going to do now, Vivian? I knew it was a bad idea to create that account and submit those pictures. Why would he ask me out on a date if he was just going to ask to see some guy again who he slept with at a party?”
