Page 26 of Screens Apart

Grabbing my phone, I headed for my bathroom, opening Pornblr to see if Thick Boy in Lace had answered. He hadn’t. I shook my head. Fingers crossed I could talk to him over the weekend. Actually talk this time, not sext.

I didn’t think I wanted that anymore.

I didn’t get a reply until Saturday afternoon, while I was lying on the sofa watchingThe Great British Bake-Offreruns on Netflix. It was my guilty pleasure show, and it always gave me the most intense cravings for whatever they were making. Simon was at the gym and Steve was out at training, having made the team he’d tried out for. I was watching pastry week and lamenting one contestant’s attempts at making a tart—it was definitely going to have a soggy bottom—when my phone flashed.

thick boy in laceHey! Sorry for not replying sooner. Everything okay?

mr. smithYeah, it’s okay. Was just having a panic

mr. smithConfession time. I’ve sorta started seeing someone, and I was freaking out

thick boy in laceAh shit! Anything I can help with?

mr. smithNah, it’s fine. I’ll live. How’s everything with you? You still hooking up with your friend?

thick boy in laceYeah… it’s going great. He bought me panties

thick boy in laceLike really nice panties

thick boy in laceI Googled the brand. They’re really fucking expensive

thick boy in laceI’m kinda confused because he said he’s not interested in a relationship, but he does shit like that, and he’s ridiculously sweet to me. He spoils me rotten and makes me feel like I’m the only person who matters

thick boy in laceIt’s making it so much harder to pretend it’s just a hook-up

Ouch. That hit close to home.

Really close to home.

Fuck.

I felt like I was having my own experience described to me, and I wondered if this was how Simon felt?

thick boy in laceI just wanna know if it’s real, you know? It would hurt if it wasn’t, but it’s starting to hurt more not knowing

thick boy in laceFuck, sorry! I didn’t mean to whine to you

mr. smithI get it. I really fucking do

mr. smithI really like this guy I’m hooking up with, but I’m fucking terrified if I’m being honest

mr. smithWhat if he doesn’t want a relationship? I don’t have the best dating history, but this guy is amazing, and I just wanna make him happy

mr. smithWhat the fuck am I gonna do?

thick boy in lacelol aren’t we a pair?

mr. smithYeah. It fucking sucks, right?

thick boy in laceOh yeah!

thick boy in laceThis is usually the time I’d ask if you wanna get off with me

thick boy in laceBut I don’t really wanna do that

mr. smithMe neither. Sorry

thick boy in laceIt’s okay. Think I’m just gonna drown my sorrows at the gym