Page 76 of Off the Wall

I blink. “You can’t be serious.”

“Except I am,” she chirps. “This explains why Cash couldn’t find your keys last night when they were so obviously right there on the ground of the courtyard. The building hidthe keys from him. And it’s putting fantasies right into your head. Through the mirrors.”

My jaw comes unhinged. “Do you realize how implausible that sounds?”

“Okay, fine. Let’s go with the moreplausibleexplanation: that Cash Briggs broke your brain with all his hotness.”

“Hey.” I frown. “Aren’t you engaged?”

“I am. And I adore Jasper. I can’t wait to be Mrs. Hayden Perkins. But that doesn’t make Cash not hot.”

I mean, she has a point.

“Come on, Nori,” she insists. “We’ve all heard the rumors about this place. So what if the magic everyone talks about is true?”

I let out a huff. “If the building were trying to bring Cash and me together, why didn’t I see him in the mirrors when he first moved in? He’d been living here for months when this started happening. It has to be a coincidence.”

“Or”—she holds up a palm—“and hear me out—maybe the buildingwaiteduntil you were ready to find love.”

“But I’ve beensoready to find love,” I practically wail. “You know that better than anybody. I never would’ve subjected myself to setups with people like Warren Snuze and Phoenix Fernsby if I weren’t ready!”

“You were desperate,” Hayden pushes back. “Which is not the same thing.” She splays her hands in a show of victory. “Face it, my friend. You and Cash were meant to be. The building has spoken.”

“No,” I insist, even as the ping in my abdomen suggests Imightwant her to be right. “I’m not some knock-off Snow White talking to a magic mirror on the wall.” I swallow hard, trying to ignore how ridiculous I sound. “I am absolutely, completely … OFF THE WALL!”

“All right, then.” Hayden tips her head. “Tell me this: Haveyou seen one of these strange reflections anywhere else? At the shop, maybe? Or in your car? On the street?”

I wrinkle my nose, pressing my lips together. “Not exactly.”

Her mouth twitches. “In other words, the magic isonlyin the building.”

“Ugh. Please remind me to never, ever talk to anyone else about this subject ever again.”

Hayden is quiet for a long moment, then she lifts a brow. “You know, I have a theory.”

“Another one?” I roll my eyes. “I can’t wait to hear.”

“I think you have certain expectations about what true love looks like based on what you’ve seen or heard with other couples. Like your parents. And East and Becca. And Violet and Joe. Then Violet and Larry. Even me and Jasper.” She pauses for a beat. “And you want what youthinkeveryone else has.”

“Maybe I do.” I avert my gaze. “And why wouldn’t I?”

“Because that’stheirlove,” Hayden says, gently. “East and Becca’s love. Your mom and dad. Violet and Larry. Me and Jasper. You need to be open to your own kind of love, Nori. Your heart wants something it’s never seen before. And I think that’s what the building’s offering you. Yourownkind of love.”

“Well,Ithink it doesn’t matter if the building wants me together with Cash, because I can’t be with the man even if I wanted to.”

“Why not?”

My shoulders slump. “Because I’m not allowed to go out with anyone who isn’t matched with me by Swipe Rite. The promo team is paying me to prove all the best fish in the sea are in their database.”

“Doesn’t Jemma want you to find your dream man?”

“She wants people to think I met him because oftheiralgorithm. And until this promo is over, I can’t date anyone else, let alone be seen in public with Cash.”

“Hmmm.” Hayden tips her chin, considering my dilemma. “I’ll bet the Swipe Rite team would get over it if you just told them the truth. I mean, who doesn’t want to celebrate a good happily ever after?”

“They’ve invested a lot in this promo,” I say. “So have the places sponsoring our dates. If I don’t go out with all ten men, I won’t get the second half of the money they promised. And I’ll have to pay back the first installment. Then I’ll be even farther from my goal of making up the shortfall for my loan.” My voice catches. “I won’t be able to buy Serendipi-Tea.”

“Okay, that is bad.” Hayden’s eyes go soft with sympathy. “What if I promise to make sure you’re never alone with Cash at the wedding? Would that help?”

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