Me: Hey Freddie. Question for you—Do you know Kayden Michaels?

Freddie: Yeah, we went to school together. Why?

I bit my nail trying to think of how to answer this without it getting back to my brother?

Me: He sent me a friend request. I wanted to know if he’s an asshole?

Freddie: Nah kid, he’s a good guy. Did you talk to him?

Me: Not really, just wanted to make sure it’s okay to accept his friend request.

Freddie: Yeah, it’s cool. If he gives you any shit, you tell me.

Me: Always Freddie. Thanks!

Freddie had given him the stamp of approval; I just needed to get the courage to send him a message.

Kayden: Morning Sophia. Sleep well?

Oh. My. Fucking. God. Did he know I was stalking him? Did Freddie say something to him? Concentrate on breathing… inhale and exhale, slowly.

Me: Hey, yeah… I slept well and you?

Hey, yeah? I should just crawl into a hole now or bang my head against the bedroom wall. Why not just lead with: Hell yes, I thought about banging your brains out before I drifted off to sleep.

Kayden: Slept like a baby. What did you mean last night about being navy blue? You intrigued me with that statement.

I twirled my hair thinking of a way to explain navy blue. Fuck it… just tell him.

Me: I don’t know how to explain it. Is navy blue an exciting color?

I rolled my eyes at my stupidity. Shit. I fidgeted waiting for his response.

Kayden: Umm, not really.

Me: Well, it’s the color of my life.

Heat crept across my cheeks.

Kayden: Impossible.

Me: Entirely true.

Kayden: Come on, you’re Mike’s sister and you’re hot as hell. No way that you’re boring.

My belly flipped with ‘hot as hell’. I loved him flirting with me; it made my body all tingly and warm.

Me: I’m nothing like my brother, Kayden. I learned what not to do by watching him.

Kayden—even his name wasn’t bland.

Kayden: I never thought you were, you just share DNA. That doesn’t make you navy blue. Tell me more about yourself. Are you seeing anyone?

I bit my lip. How much should I tell him? I’ll never meet him; why not throw it all on the table? Just enjoy the flirtation and his color.

Me: I’m seeing someone casually. A teacher from work and he’s a nice guy.

Kayden: That’s the kiss of death.

Me: What is?

Kayden: He’s a nice guy is code for he sucks.

I snickered, covering my mouth, at the spot on interpretation of Bob.

Me: He doesn’t suck; Bob can be boring at times. It’s not easy to find someone to fit my perfect mold.

Kayden: I thought I found ‘the one’ twice in my life… I’ve abandoned the possibility and stopped dating all together.

I frowned at the second half of his statement. Why are all the hot guys unavailable? It leaves the single ladies my age to drown a sea of boredom.

Me: I can’t give up on filling the mold, not yet at least.

Kayden: Why did you end up divorced? If I can ask, I don’t want to offend you.

I sighed. How to explain what happened with us. It’s complicated and fucked up.

Me: So many things went wrong. I met him right after high school and we married years later. The relationship lacked in so many ways, but I ignored them, waiting for it to change.

A lump formed in my throat thinking about my past failure. I thought I’d be with him forever; we’d have a family and grow old together.

Kayden: Lacked how?

Me: I felt more like a roommate and his housekeeper. Totally passionless… there was no romance. We talked about having kids, but it would’ve been a miracle.

Kayden: Is he gay?

I spit my coffee out, drenching the kitchen table.

Me: No, he’s married with kids now. We weren’t right for each and I had to walk away.

Kayden: You’re beautiful. All that long brown hair, big beautiful brown eyes, and smokin’ hot body are delicious. How can a man not want to make love to you?

He said I was beautiful again. I never thought of myself as ugly, but more ordinary. I always wanted blue eyes or something more unique. My hair is straight and one length and never held a curl no matter how hard I tried and grazed my waist. I’m taller than most women and slender with a pouch on my stomach. I felt plain at times, but I knew my eyes were my best feature. They were large with long eyelashes and I loved using different colors of makeup to help them stand out more.

Kayden: A relationship is nothing without passion, you made the right choice. It’s not always easy, but it’s best to keep your sanity.

I tapped my foot, unable to keep still. I didn’t want the conversation to be about me.

Me: You’ve given up on dating entirely?

Kayden: Yes, strictly physical relationship now.

Me: So you have sex with strangers? Are you that guy—the type that sleeps with a girl, never to be heard from again?

Kayden: Fuck no, not anymore at least. I’m upfront with each of them.

Does that mean he’s sleeping with more than one?

Me: Them?

Kayden: I’m not banging my way through the female population of New Orleans. I turn to in my time of need.

My body tingled thinking about Kayden needing sex. A porno clip played in my mind and he was the star.

Kayden: I’m not a dick about it.

I blinked, being pulled out of my sex haze.

Me: You sound kind of like a caveman to me.

Kayden: I don’t take what’s not freely offered. They know I’ll never be their boyfriend, they take it for what it is, a night of pleasure... mind numbing pleasure, the type that makes your toes curl, takes your breath away, and leaves you wanting more.

Fuck me. Every part of my body ignited. I’ve never had that… ever. I wanted it more than anything in the world. The bland vanilla sex in my real life lacked the passion and want of the carnal pleasure I had with my book boyfriends. He said they, as in more than one, fucking hell.

Me: OMG. You’re a man whore.

Kayden: Ouch, Sophia. That’s a bit harsh isn’t it?

Me: I thought it was more funny than harsh. I meant it the nicest way.

I didn’t blame Kayden. I’m sure he’d been upfront with them; some didn’t mind being used in that way, hell, maybe they were using him. I’ve never been a user or let myself be used. Maybe that was my problem, why my life is navy blue. I was drawn in by him, a man my exact opposite. I felt safe and comfortable talking to him. He’s hundreds of miles away, not looking for a girlfriend, and added color to my dreary world.

Kayden and I had been talking for a week now. The hour a day online conversations turned into all day banter. We worked and messaged each other every moment we could, usually falling asleep in the middle of the conversation. I wanted to know everything about his man. He shared his days with me, the tiniest detail I clung to. I still thought the man whore title fit him perfectly, but he was more complex. He’s passionate and romantic, but his heart’s been destroyed and I needed to know why.