Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Please,” I say, slumping into the chair across from her. “It was just a date.”
Emily from second grade leans around the fridge door. “A date with Lucky Branson.”
“And you made a TikTok with him. On your porch. And he called you electric.” Kelsey leans forward, eyes glinting. “We dissected it during our entire lunch break. Which… why didn’t you join us?”
“Had a massive glue disaster I had to clean up.” A white lie because there was glue, but it wasn’t disastrous and I had something else I wanted to do. Also, I wanted to hold space with my memories of last night to look for any sign that I’m being played.
I haven’t found it yet.
I peel my string cheese in slow, careful strips. “It wasn’t that serious.”
“Uh-huh,” Emily says, closing the fridge and flopping into a chair. “Which is why he posted it to his TikTok too? And it’s already pushing a million views?”
I groan. “Don’t remind me.”
The video exploded overnight. Comments were… a lot.
Most were enthusiastic, begging me to go out with him again. We ended the video before I agreed on a second date and so at that time, no one knew that I did, in fact, agree to it.
A few comments said we had great chemistry. Some were hilarious—one person said we looked like the couple in a Hallmark movie but with sex appeal.
But then there were others.
Unkind ones.
She’s not even that pretty.
What’s he doing with her?
She looks like someone who says “oopsie” when she drops her phone.
If she won’t take him, I will.
That should be me, not her.
This is exactly how I know Lucky Branson is nowhere close to average and why he’s truly in a different league.
But he’s decent, my inner voice reminds me.
Actually, he’s way more than decent. He’s absolutely a great guy and I can’t ignore that.
Kelsey reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “You okay?”
I nod, but the truth is I’m not entirely sure. It’s been a roller coaster and my stomach hasn’t settled since Lucky smiled at me on my doorstep like I was the only girl on Earth.
Which is probably why I filmed a TikTok during lunch. I left the lights off in my classroom, propped my phone on a stack of sight word flashcards, and spoke honestly, albeit in a low whisper.
“Okay, friends. Here’s the update you’ve all been not-so-patiently waiting for. Yes, I had a great time on my date with Lucky Branson. Yes, he’s funny, charming, a little cocky but in an acceptable way, and very snack-forward. And yes, I did agree to a second date. But…” I held up a finger. “I’m still going to date other people. Because this was always meant to be an experiment. I want to see what’s out there. What makes a connection feel real. So, stay tuned, because the experiment continues. And I promise to keep you posted, whether it ends in romance, bedlam or a restraining order.”
I posted it an hour ago, and it’s already flooded with comments. Mostly positive.
Mostly.
A knock at the break room door makes us all look up. Mr. Walters from the front office steps in holding a cellophane-wrapped bouquet.
“Winnie?” he says, looking around until he spots me. “These just got delivered for you.”
I blink in surprise, rising from my chair and abandoning my string cheese to accept them. It’s a stunning arrangement of spring florals and as I take them, I see it—an envelope tucked among the petals. My stomach swoops.
I tear it open and pull out two tickets to the Titans’ game tonight.
There’s a note in looping, slightly messy handwriting.
Thought you might like to see what all the fuss is about. Bring a friend. Snacks on me.
—Lucky
Kelsey squeals, having snuck up on me, peering over my shoulder at the note. “No way.”
Emily snatches one of the tickets. “These are insane seats.”
I stare at the bouquet, at the tickets, and feel torn down the middle.
Because I was considering going out for a drink with one of the other guys who stitched my original challenge video. A perfectly nice accountant named Mark who made a joke about tax season being a mood killer. That was sort of comical.
But now… now there’s this.
A reminder of the guy who makes me laugh until my face hurts. The one who calls me electric like it’s a compliment and not a hazard warning.
“You’re going, right?” Kelsey says with a nudge of her shoulder into mine.
“I don’t know. I was going to meet someone for a drink.”
“Did you commit to it?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No. Not yet.”
And if I’m being truthful, I didn’t commit because I was having doubts about dating other guys when Lucky wanted to go out again. I’m not built to be a casual dater… at least not for the long haul.
But when it really boils down to it, while Mark made one amusing comment about tax season, I’m pretty convinced that’s all he’s got in the tank, and I don’t really want to meet him for a drink.