Page 27 of First Kiss with a Mothman

Aw, shit. I relinquish Reginald, losing his vision, and allow him to fly to the table. Where is my walking stick? Crap, I left it all upstairs. Now I’m trapped in some kitchen with nothing to aid me. “Sorry, I uh, left my walking stick in―”

“You could see me just now.” I can hear the cogs turning as he pieces together my secret.

“No, I just―”

“How did you get down here?”

“Um, touching the walls?”

“And you knew it was me.”

“I heard you! Your wings and voice are, um, always buzzing.”

“I had my wings still.” His accusatory tone grows confident, and my pulse pounds in my ears. He can hear my bullshit lies, and I have no defense.

“I can explain.”

The air shifts and he steps closer. “You didn’t see my hand swing at you just now. You’re blind again.”

“I’m always blind,” I mutter.

“Then how did you get down here and recognize me?”

“Can we…” I gulp and reach for a chair, or anything. “My stomach is killing me. You got any food?”

Mort silently moves the chair for me, and I sit down, feeling around for the table. “Thank you. And, uh, thank you for last night.”

“I did what any friend would do.”

“You’re going above and beyond that. First a sleeping bag, now breakfast?”

A moment passes, and I hear the sounds of plates hitting the table. “Why do I have the feeling you already know what I’m cooking?” he asks quietly.

My face warms, and he places a fork in my hand. “Because, I, uh, can smell it?”

Mort quietly guides my hand to the cutlery, and I tap my fork to feel for the eggs and toast. After sniffing the aromatic food, my stomach grumbles again. “Eat. And let me get you a drink. You need to replace the calories,” he says in a deadpan tone. I proceed to take a bite, and I listen as Mort shuffles around.

When he puts a glass of water in my hand a minute later, I allow my fingers to linger on his for a brief moment. Even after making a fool of myself last night, Mort is still taking care of me. Is it possible he likes me as more than just a friend?

“Clearly you’re not faking being blind right now.” My smile falls, and Mort continues, “How were you able to see me earlier?”

The hope that we can be more than friends extinguishes in my heart. I’ve been caught being able to see, and now he’s going to think I’m a freak or a liar. “I’m not…”

“There you are, Arie.” Selena’s voice pulls me out of my quiet panic. “Oh hey, mothboy.”

“It’s Mort,” we both say at the same time.

“Now that you’re up, can we get out of here?” Her voice sounds equal parts scratchy and irritated.

“Did you stay overnight?” I ask with a mouth full of eggs.

“Yes. You got messy, so I slept on a couch down here to make sure you weren’t alone and far away. My first frat party and I slept in a house filled with monsters.” Her distaste is evident in her voice, and I frown. I’m sitting with my friend and crush, the mothman, and she keeps coming off as hating on monsters. My cousin continues to sabotage my love life. Why did she even come to Creelin?

“The things I do for you, Arie. I’m stealing some toast.” She munches on my food, and I tamp down the urge to tell her to fuck off. “Let’s get out of here.”

I gulp some water and push my plate away. “Fine. I could use a shower.”

“Need my help?” Selena asks.