Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 17220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
“Jordy!” I say, laughing. “Am I that shallow a beast?”
“Yes,” Clara and Jordan shout in unison, and I press my hand to my chest, offended.
Jordan lifts a hand. “Remember that time you didn’t accept a second date because you thought the guy parted his hair weird?”
“You guys, he did. It was like a seventies comb-over, but he had plenty of hair, so why? Also, his LinkedIn profile picture was a Minion. Come on.” I pause. “Wait. Was that a way of hinting that he was bald and his hair was a wig? Oh my God. I wish I’d have looked closer, but I was so distracted by him ordering expresso after dinner.”
“I love a bald man.” Jordy sighs.
“I know you do.”
“Ronnie,” Clara says, leaning forward, “what about the time you didn’t call a guy back because of his pizza order?”
“He ordered a cheese pizza with corn.” I throw my hands up. “I can’t live like that!”
They both laugh. “Not shallow at all,” Clara murmurs into her drink.
I point at Jordy. “You didn’t go on a second date with Angela because her phone case had rhinestones, so you’re not one to talk.”
Jordan shrugs, sipping their drink.
Clara grins at me. “This is perfect timing for Valentine’s season.”
I groan. It’s been so long since I observed the sham of a holiday that it didn’t register. “No, Valentine’s season is the worst timing for a first date.”
She gapes at me, this adorable romantic. “Why?”
“The expectation, the pressure, the spectacle of it all.”
“Dummy, you don’t have to make it a spectacle,” she says, like it’s that easy.
“Have you met our society?” I ask.
Jordan laughs. “I guess it all depends on where you two are going.”
I stare ahead, realizing that Jude and I didn’t actually get that far in the planning. “I don’t know. I assume somewhere for dinner? I hope dinner. Dinner might lead to dessert, which might lead to after-dinner drinks, which might lead to orgasms. I think I’m good with Valentine’s season if it leads to orgasms.”
“I haven’t seen you this unhinged in a long time.” Jordy looks at me out of the corner of their eye. “Are you going to be able to keep your shit together for the next seven days?”
“She absolutely will not,” Clara says.
I pull in a deep breath. Jordan is right. Clara is right. It’s been months since I went on a date. Even longer since I went on one I was this excited about. I’m trying not to build a mental picture of Jude. Like me, he’s been careful to not share pictures publicly and has locked down his socials. I respect it. If anything, it makes him hotter in my mind.
I just have to keep my chill for one more week. “Yeah, I think so.”
My sister laughs. “Liar.”
February 7, 2026
iMessage
Jude T.
Good morning from the west coast!
I thought you’d be happy to know that the flat-earthers have it all figured out.
Link to Instagram post: “Just did my own research. No curve. No spin. Just truth. They laughed at me when I said it was flat . . . but they won’t be laughing when they fall off the edge.”
Veronica C.
I haven’t even had my coffee yet and you’re already up getting frothy on the internet. Impressive.
Also, why are you on the west coast??
Sorry, I realize now I forgot to mention I’m in a friend’s wedding in Oregon this weekend. All of the groomsmen are staying at a rental house together before the wedding (today) and for the next couple days. It’s why I couldn’t get together until next Friday.
Ahhh, okay that makes sense. I was wondering why you said next Friday but figured maybe you needed time to emotionally prepare for my charm.
I fear not even a month would be enough to prepare for something of that magnitude.
Correct. Isn’t it like 5am there?
It is, which means I’m the only one awake and this is why I logged into Instagram for the first time in like two months. Of course the first thing I see is flat earth nonsense.
The machine knows how to get you to engage.
Terrifying.
So for next Friday, I was thinking around 7 for dinner? I’ll make reservations somewhere that is able to accommodate the mass of your charm.
Sounds perfect.
Great. I’ll get all your info when I’m back in town.
I hear some activity downstairs in the kitchen so I’m going to see who’s up. Have a great weekend, Veronica, I’m really looking forward to next week.
Me too
Chapter Eight
Veronica
Ihave a momentary flush of panic on Saturday when I see the mail lady in the lobby, thinking I’ve missed my one o’clock lunch with a friend, but then realize that it’s only ten in the morning. What is this chaos?
But given that she’s nearly done, I linger in the lobby, noodling on my phone, to save myself a trip back downstairs.