Page 20 of More Than a Match

She follows up the text with another: a kissing-face emoji, and my heart flutters again.Dammit, why are you acting like a teenager?I scold myself. It has been a long time since I’ve felt this way about anyone, and it is definitely freaking me out a little bit. I’ve never believed in soulmates before meeting her, but now… now I’m convinced they are real, and that she is mine.

I send one last text, a single kissing face emoji, then turn and head toward the shower. I’m reluctant to wash her scent off me, but I know I’ll have to do it eventually. I might as well just get it over with, then figure out how I’m going to spend the rest of my day.

It has been hours since Mina left, and I feel like I’ve done absolutely nothing with the rest of my day. I was supposed to get my hair cut today, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave my apartment. I took a nap, holding her pillow close, breathing in the lingering scent of her shampoo till I fell asleep.

Now I’m eating dinner and watching the evening news, wearing the pajamas she wore in my bed last night. Part of me wonders if this is too much, but some small part of my brain tells me it’s just right.

My phone rings, breaking the relative quiet of my evening. It’s her. I answer it, desperate not to sound as breathless as I am feeling.

“Hey!”

“Hey, what’s up?”

“I miss you,” I blurt. “Turns out, my evenings are much more pleasant with you in them.”

“Aw you’re the sweetest.”

“So, when are we doing that again?”Damn, do I sound too eager?

“I’ll have to check my schedule; you know how crazy my hours are.”

“Yeah. We’ll figure something out.”

“Hopefully soon!” The audio changes and her voice suddenly sounds more distant. “Hang on, I’m putting you on speaker for a second.”

“No problem. What you up to that you need two hands for? Something naughty?”

“Oh my god, no,” she laughs. “I’m feeding my fish.”

“Oh, fish? Do tell.”

“Well, I’ve got a parrot cichlid named Iago. He lives with three clown loaches, Larry, Curly, and Moe, and a bristle nose pleco named Hank. And then I have a beautiful black, white and orange koi beta named Raja. Separate tank for him, of course. He doesn’t play as well with others.”

“Sheesh, you’ve got a whole menagerie,” I laugh. “Which one is your favorite?”

“That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child,” she pouts. “I love them all for different reasons.”

“Fair enough. I’ve never had a pet.”

“Wait, never?”

“Nope. What with foster care, then working non-stop, I’ve never had the time to really invest in one.”

“That makes sense. It’s a shame, though. Animals are great. I love the fish because they are pretty low maintenance, and they are so soothing to watch. They help me unwind after a long day.”

“Someday I hope to have my own little zoo.”

“Sounds like a plan! I hope you can.”

I hear a muffled knock on the door, and then a voice I don’t recognize. Then Mina’s voice hushed and strained. “Hang on a second, it’s my Mom.”

CHAPTER 17: MINA

“Honey, dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Who are you talking to?”

My mother’s presence at my door is like a bucket of ice water doused over my head. I feel my voice tremble as I scramble for a suitable explanation.

“Oh, just someone from work,” I say as I crack my door to face her, my phone clutched to my chest.

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