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“I want those dumplings you hate,” he murmurs.

“Okay.” I smile. “Anything for you.”

I’m tapping away on my phone to place our order when the news anchor on the television launches into more local news.

“Police are still seeking leads in the case of a missing local man. Twenty-seven-year-old Henri DeSantos was reported missing by his family earlier this month. DeSantos, a local artist, was last seen leaving his studio sometime on the fifth. His current whereabouts remain unknown. Police are asking anyone with any relevant information to contact missing persons.”

Jess makes a sound beside me, almost like a sigh, and I look up just in time to see the photograph on the screen. Good-looking guy. Right about our age, too. Eerie.

“He looks familiar.”

“Can’t imagine how you’d know him,” Jesse says.

“You make it sound likeyouknow him.”

“We went on a few dates. Nothing serious,” he mumbles into my skin while he sinks deeper against me.

“I don’t remember hearing about that.”

“You didn’t even know I’d been with men until a week ago.”

Good point. I go back to typing away on my phone to finish placing our order. We can chill out in bed together all night and Jess can help himself to as many gross dumplings as he wants.

Chapter nine

Cas

Well, I may have underestimated myself for the first timeever. Because when I saw Will on Sunday, I kinda… lost it. Only internally, though. Externally, I remained calm, but on the inside… yeah, I really don’t like not getting my way. And the thought of him with another guy—even though I told him to do exactly that—nope, don’t like that. Witnessing him interact with someone else only drives the point home. The plan is back on. I’ll be damned if I let anyone else have him.

I wait a few days to message him, mostly to gather my thoughts and go over everything in my mind multiple times. This can work. Thishasto work.

Orchid Mantis:I saw you the other day.

Purple Puppy:Oh yeah? Where? When?

Orchid Mantis:Not telling you.

Purple Puppy:What was I doing?

Orchid Mantis:Not telling you that, either.

Purple Puppy:So, what do you want to tell me? You must’ve messaged me for a reason.

I take a very deep breath and carefully craft my reply.

Orchid Mantis:You saw me too, and you didn’t recognize me. Thought for sure my voice would tip you off, but… no.

Purple Puppy:You almost sound disappointed.

Orchid Mantis:I’m not. I’m starting to think… maybe this can’t go in the direction I wanted initially, but it can still go somewhere.

Purple Puppy:Such as?

Orchid Mantis:I don’t know yet. We can wait and see.

Purple Puppy:You really are freaked out about this, huh?

Not going to respond to that.