Chapter Ten

Romilly: How was your day?

Three little dots, then… Not bad. We were in the weight room this morning. Then I was with the offensive coordinator going through plays with Crew.

Romilly: Who is Crew?

Kaiden: Quarterback.

Romilly: Ah. Throws the ball, right?

He sent a faceplant emoji. Yes. I need to teach you all the positions.

Romilly: My best friend is Google.

Kaiden: I think you need a new best friend. I volunteer as tribute.

She laughed. BFFs!

****

Kaiden: Used pads today for a scrimmage. Got knocked around. Now my bruises have bruises.

Romilly: I assume bruises are the norm for football players.

Kaiden: Yeah. Sometimes you can see shapes in them. Like you can with clouds.

Romilly: As an artist, I use pareidolia a lot for inspiration.

Kaiden: Are you saying I inspire you?

Romilly: I’m saying nothing on the grounds that it may embarrass me.

Cry laughing emoji sent.

****

Kaiden: What’s your favorite color?

Romilly: Red. Yours?

Kaiden: Blue. Is that a boring answer?

Romilly: No answer is boring.

Kaiden: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Romilly: Probably Paris. It might sound boring but I’d love to visit the Louvre.

Kaiden: If blue isn’t boring as a color, then the Louvre isn’t boring as a travel destination.

Romilly smiled, more than charmed by his response. Tell me all your favorites.

Kaiden: Only if you tell me yours.

****

Romilly: Would you rather travel back in time or go forward to see the future?

Kaiden: Easy. Future. I’d love to see Starfleet. You?

Romilly: Future. A night in a haunted house or a week in the desert?

Kaiden: Haunted house. I’ve seen Dune . Not a fan of the worms.

Romilly: Since I have zero survival skills, haunted house for me. Would you rather have the ability to be invisible or to read people’s minds?

Kaiden: Good one. Invisible. You can spy on any person you want, wherever you want. Mwahahaha.

Romilly: I think you’re drunk on power. I’d like to read people’s minds. Imagine the secrets everyone has that you could discover.

Kaiden: Devious. Love it. I have one. Would you rather have to use shrimp-flavored toothpaste or deodorant that smells like cheese?

Romilly: Gross. So much gross. I think the cheese is the lesser evil.

Kaiden: Agreed.

Romilly: Would you rather kiss everyone you meet or never kiss anyone again?

Kaiden: The thought of not kissing you is too awful to think about. So, I guess I’ll kiss everyone, but only on the cheek. Except you I’ll kiss on the mouth.

Romilly: Are you flirting through text?

Kaiden: You bet I am. I need any edge to woo you properly. Are you wooed?

Romilly: Very.