Page 13 of Kiss Me, Maybe

Are her cheeks pink, or is the sunlight filtering through the window making her glow like that? Her smile spreads.

“It’s too bad you’re not competing… Which brings me to the favor,” I say, getting us back on track. “As you already know, I’ve decided to go through with the scavenger hunt.”

She nods. “Sounds cool. Come to thank me for the idea?”

“If I remember correctly,I’mthe one who came up with the idea,” I remind her. “You just told me I should do it.”

“True, but I’m curious.” She leans over the bar. “Which part comes first, the scavenger hunt or dating the sapphic internet? Or is the scavenger hunt just a means for you to date the sapphic internet?”

“Oh, I’m already way ahead of you,” I say as another message from Leti lights up my lock screen.

@LetiIsTrying:Too soon to tell my family about you? Oops, just did, they’re dying to meet you

“I always knew you were a player, Angel,” Krystal teases after glancing down at the screen. Then she looks back up at me and puts a hand to her chest. “And here I thought I was the only woman you flirted with.”

“If it makes you feel any better, you’ll always be my first.” I smirk at her. “Besides, it’s all harmless. She’s not even the first person I’ve messaged like this today.”

“I hate to think how many virtual hearts you plan on breaking once this is all over,” she says, sighing wistfully. “Are you messaging any San Antonio locals?”

“I don’t think so, no.”

She lets out a breath and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was… relieved? “Not that we’ve really talked about where we live, but if I’m getting serious about the scavenger hunt, I probably should start searching for—”

“Potential suitors?” Krystal’s brows furrow. “Suitoresses? What’s the femme equivalent of a suitor?”

“Beats me.” I shrug. “Anyway, I thought it might be a good idea to start the scavenger hunt off here at the bar.”

“Okay.” She nods. “I can talk to my boss about hosting the event. She’ll probably be on board if it brings in more customers.”

“Thank you. Would you mind giving me your number so Ican send you the details later?” I hand her my phone. She takes it, fingers tapping on the screen, and all I can think is,We’re exchanging phone numbers.

“You want to stay for a drink?” she asks as she hands my phone back. “It’s on me.”

This isn’t the first time she’s offered me free drinks, just as this isn’t the first time I refuse her (“Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly—”) and she refuses to be refused (“I’m already pouring, here, just take it”). The bar is still dead, giving us a rare moment of undisrupted time to talk.

“So, what made you decide to be an influencer?” Her brown eyes twinkle with amusement. “I want the longest version possible.” She walks around from behind the bar and pulls me toward one of the upholstered couches. “Tell meeverything.”

“It’s not like I planned for any of this to happen,” I divulge. “All of this started with an accidental thirst trap. I just wanted to set the record straight and get some things off my chest. I never expected anyone to actually be listening.”

“Well, you can always come to me, you know,” she offers. “If you ever need to talk or vent to someone who understands. Don’t be a stranger.”

“Thanks, Krystal. I appreciate that.”

I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about the prospect of dating. Maybe I never have been. Just in the past couple weeks I’ve gained an influx of new followers, experimented with my style to the praise of online strangers, and casually flirted with people through DMs.

Putting the pictures up on my last post was no small feat, not when all my old pictures show a woman who no longer feelslike me. Reinventing my style and raiding my father’s closet for the sole purpose of a TikTok post might seem rash, but even before I took those photos I knew I was on to something much bigger. It was a subtle change to slick my hair back in a low ponytail to show off my cheekbones, skip my usual makeup routine for a simple tinted sunscreen and lip balm, and finish off the look with a pair of bootcut jeans, sneakers, and a plain black T-shirt. It’s a similar look to what I’m wearing now, only with my hair down.

Sipping on my drink, I tell Krystal about the clues and locations I have planned out so far. When patrons begin to trickle in, Krystal returns behind the bar. I join her at a corner stool, staring covertly at her when she’s busy and not-so-covertly when she returns.

“I think what you’re doing is really cool,” Krystal says when the crowd dies down a little. “Is there anything else I can do? I can help you secure the second location if you want.”

“Really?” I glance over at her. “You’d do that?”

“Sure.” She shrugs easily. “This sounds fun. I want to be part of it any way I can.”

“Of course. Yeah, I’d love your help.”

“You think you’ll find your soulmate at the end of this?” she asks, her tone teasing.

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