“Hey! Mothman!” Kelly yells from halfway down the block, “Are you single?”
His antennae raise a fraction. “I definitely am.”
“Cool! So is Piper! Come with us!” she announces. “Anam needs snacks! I am ready for bed! I do not have time for you two to navigate this shy nerdy bullshit.”
I cringe, but the Mothman’s antennae raise again as he steps toward me. I release a breath. Good, I haven’t scared him off yet.
Kelly and I steer the stumbling Anam down the street, the Mothman follows at a reasonable distance.
I avoid turning around to watch him. There are a lot more nerves in my stomach now that we're away from the crowded bar. I don't realize how distracted I am until Anam and Kelly are laughing at some joke I missed and we arrive at the well-lit parking lot. A few folding picnic tables set up inside a half-circle of food trucks. We all order, and while I am collect condiments and Kelly wrangles Anam, the Mothman sneakily pays for our tacos and a big pile of nachos.
“That’s sweet, but you don’t need to keep buying us things,” I say.
“I can afford it.” His antennae curl back, I can't help staring at the movement. I wonder what they feel like.
“What’s your deal? Are you rich? Why did everyone in the bar seem to know who you were but me?” I ask with a laugh.
“There aren’t a lot of Mothmen in the city. I make a distinct impression.”
“You'll certainly be hard for me to forget,” I admit with another awkward laugh.
“Good memories I hope?" His wings flutter, almost like he’s nervous to hear the answer.
"Planning on making some." I laugh, he smiles and sets his armful of food onto one of the picnic tables. His wings shift as he maneuvers himself into a chair.
He’s so cute like this. Gosh it's nice. Not really knowing him, having the mystery, being able to project whatever I want onto him. I know if I learn more I’m going to develop feelings. I don't think I can handle that right now.
“What if we skip the getting to know you thing? I just got out of something serious and I need...” I lean on the table, keeping my voice low enough that only he can hear.
“Something not serious?" He nods. "That’s what you're looking for?”
“Yes?" I bite my lip and focus on sounding decisive. "Yes. No strings. No fuss. One night of anonymous sex.” I blurt out as heat climbs up my cheeks. Too much. I’m being too much again.
“Sex? Tonight? With me?” He sounds somewhere between confused and shocked. And here I thought I was being obvious.
“If you want to?”
“Of courseIwant to.” The words come out so quickly that he stumbles over them.
“That isn’t too weird?” I ask. “The sort of thing they do in the movies. It's always sexy and anonymous and exciting, right?” Maybe I shouldn’t ask him, but I feel better as soon as the words are out of my mouth. “You know the kinds of movies I mean?” I laugh at the end of my sentence.
“I know those kinds of movies. If that’s what you need tonight then I can provide it.” His wings flutter as I slip into the picnic table beside him.
“Okay then, no full names. And no details. Nothing I can Google!” I say with another slightly embarrassing laugh. I let our legs graze before I lean over him to select a nacho.
His hand lifts, hesitates briefly and finally lands on my knee. His long fingers squeeze my leg gently. His mouth arms twist up, into his strange smile that looks nothing like a human expression. He’s fascinating.
Crap, I need to be sure I keep this casual. Going home with a stranger–having sex with someone I hardly know–is the perfect way to celebrate this new single chapter in my life. As long as I don’t start really caring about him.
“Foooodddd!” Anam croons as she and Kelly dump a pile of salsa packets on the table. I feel the Mothman stiffen, but he leans toward me a little, letting our bodies touch.
“I’m Kelly, this is Anam, and what is your new friend’s name?” Kelly asks me pointedly.
I nervously bite my lip. “This is, Ant?” I have to say it as a question, repeating the name that the bouncer gave.
“Is that your real name?” Kelly asks.
“Some people call me Ant.” There's a quirk in the Mothman's smile. I think he would wink at me if he could.
