Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
ElizaBeth: And her stepsisters. Don’t forget about them.
ThunderStruck: My thoughts exactly. Why the beef with Cinderella?
ElizaBeth: I don’t have beef with her. LOL. I just think she deserves better than some man who has to go around putting her shoe on people’s feet to find her. He should’ve known who she was the moment he looked into her eyes. It just feels like their connection wasn’t soul-deep, you know? And that’s what she deserved.
ThunderStruck: Is that what you want? Soul-deep?
ElizaBeth: Isn’t that what every woman wants?
I snort to myself. My answer to that question is an obvious one.
ThunderStruck: I don’t know. I’m a man.
ElizaBeth: Oh boy, macho macho. I man. I strong. I beat chest.
A soft laugh jumps from my throat.
ThunderStruck: I didn’t say that. lmao. I’m just saying I don’t know how the female mind works. If I did, I wouldn’t be single and starting fights with nice women on the internet, thinking they’re my ex.
ElizaBeth: Well, I can’t speak for femalekind, but I’d like to think everyone wants the soul connection, wouldn’t you? What are we here for if not?
ThunderStruck: I don’t know. All I know is that I’ve never had it.
ElizaBeth: Me either.
Silence hangs heavy around me as I consider the thing we’re both not saying.
What if this thing between us is that?
ElizaBeth: Well, I hate to cut this chat short, but I have to get up for work in the morning. Not sure if you know this, but I work at this marketing firm called Banks & McKenzie.
ThunderStruck: Oh yeah? You like it over there?
ElizaBeth: I do, actually. I mean, there’s this guy named Beau Banks who’s kind of demanding, but he’s at least handsome enough to make it tolerable to deal with him.
ThunderStruck: He kind of sounds like a prick.
ElizaBeth: I didn’t describe him well, then. He’s pretty perfect.
ThunderStruck: Ha. You must not know him that well.
ElizaBeth: I guess we’ll just have to keep meeting at Midnight until we find out.
Fuck me. I’ve got a big feeling I’m not going to be able to give this up anytime soon.
ElizaBeth: Goodnight, Beau Banks.
ThunderStruck: Goodnight, Mystery Woman.
Until we meet again.
ElizaBeth: I can’t believe you actually left me a box of cookies in the seventh-floor break room fridge.
ThunderStruck: Yeah, well, I would have left them in YOUR floor’s break room fridge if you’d tell me what floor you work on, but I did my best to pick a neutral location almost halfway up the building. I can’t believe you’ve lived in Miami your whole life and never had Cindy Lou’s Cookies.
For the past week, every night around nine, I log in to Midnight, enter the chat with ElizaBeth, and talk with her for an ungodly amount of time. Last night, I finally went to bed around two in the morning and was dragging ass on my way into work. Though, I didn’t forget to make good on my promise to bring her Miami’s best cookies.
ElizaBeth: I guess I’ve been deprived. Tell me, Mr. Grinch, when did you first discover Cindy Lou?
ThunderStruck: In college, actually. My mom isn’t an almond mom, but she’s not the type to bake either. By the time I got to UofM, I was desperate for sugar.
ElizaBeth: Wow. Talk about a wild college rebellion. LOL
ThunderStruck: What can I say? Cookies are safer than hookers and blow. So…how many floors did you have to go in the elevator to get to that break room? Or did you not even have to take the elevator?
ElizaBeth: Like I’d tell you that.
ThunderStruck: I had to try. It’s not easy being the only one in the dark about identities.
ElizaBeth: You’re right. I guess it is a little unfair that I know who you are but you don’t know who I am.
ThunderStruck: So…you’re finally going to bring me into the light?
ElizaBeth: Nope. LOL.
ThunderStruck: You’re a cruel woman.
ElizaBeth: Not cruel. Cautious.
ThunderStruck: Cautious of what?
ElizaBeth: Of what all the things coming out of the dark would mean.
ThunderStruck: I have to assume an ominous tone with that last bit, but have you considered all the positive things that might happen in the light?
ElizaBeth: Like what?
ThunderStruck: Kissing. Touching. Dating. I’m a really good dater. Very good at the wine and dine.
ElizaBeth: All that sounds incredible. Really. But I don’t think we can move forward without doing something else first.
ThunderStruck: What?
ElizaBeth: Rating cookies.
ThunderStruck: If there were a blue balls form of message, that would be it.
ElizaBeth: LOL Sorry. But this is important. Because you think these cookies are the best. I’m not so sure. Chocolate Chip… 8.2/10
ThunderStruck: What??? Only an 8 out of 10?
ElizaBeth: Lemon Cloud… 7.5/10
ElizaBeth: Rocky Road… 8/10
ThunderStruck: Did you give a single cookie a 10???
ElizaBeth: Red Velvet… 7.8/10.
ThunderStruck: Oh my God. Are you sure you were eating the right cookies?
ElizaBeth: The box with the “For Mystery Woman” note on the top and Cindy Lou emblazoned on its every surface? Pretty sure.