AnaBGR
I blame my Muslim guilt.
StanleyP
The guilt will keep you honest. In fact, I’m tendering my official resignation as your revenge consultant. We’re both in uncharted waters now.
AnaBGR
I thought revenge made the world turn.
StanleyP
Pretty sure that’s chai.
AnaBGR
You didn’t say “chai tea.” Now I know you’re one of my people.
StanleyP
And you’re one of mine. Thanks for the advice the other day.
AnaBGR
Did it work? Are you in luuuuurve?
StanleyP
Please stop. And no. Just... invested.
The word stung.Invested. My friend had gone from assuring me his feelings would pass to feeling invested. My bot buddy was my friend, my ally, my cheerleader. He had hinted at something more, and I had felt a pull towards him as well. How had those feelings been so easily replaced? Or was he playing with both this mystery girl and me? I quickly typed.
AnaBGR
Investments are good. So long as you don’t have a diversified portfolio, if you know what I mean.
StanleyP
Nah, I’m an all-in kind of investor.
Whoever this girl was, I hope she knew how lucky she was to have caught the eye of someone so kind and principled. I thought back to Aydin, the way he had stepped up to defend me without hesitation. He had bought me an ice cream to cheer me up, though he didn’t even like me. I thought of his dark gaze on mine, and revised that statement. He didn’t want to like me—and yet he did. We had that in common at least.
StanleyP
What about you? Any new investments in your life?
AnaBGR
Not sure how I feel about this metaphor, actually.
StanleyP
Don’t change the subject.
AnaBGR
No new investments. But...
