Page 58 of Renegade Rift

I raise a brow at her. “And how exactly do you know about this high-end dating app?”

Paige winks. “It’s how I met Anthony.”

“It is?” There’s definitely more of a story there. I hop down from the island and spin, resting my elbows on the counter and my chin in my hands. “Do tell.”

She smiles, like she’s been dying for this moment, but then suddenly narrows her gaze and shoves a finger in my face. “If you breathe a word of this to Franny, I’ll skin you.”

I move my hand across my pressed mouth. “My lips are sealed.”

“Anthony was a client of mine before we started dating. He never actually watched me clean. We just talked. He would tell me about his dating woes on Opalescent and then wax poetic about how amazing it would be if I wasn’t his cleaning lady, and he could just date me. I told him to add me to the app and fire me. He matched with me an hour later, and the rest is history.”

Paige reaches out and pushes her finger under my jaw, closing my mouth.

History indeed. The two of them are magic. Meeting each other’s weird quirks in a way that can’t be anything other than destiny. They’re perfect for each other.

“I love that,” I say and glance down at the app. A horde of hornets takes flight in my belly as the tiny crystal symbol flips over and over signaling the app loading.

I’m really doing this.

“We’re going to find that for you too,” Paige promises.

I wish I had her confidence, because mine leaves the moment the app asks me for my name and what type of relationship I’m looking for.

Maybe I’m not ready.

“I’m not sure I want that kind of love.” Not yet. Maybe never. “I’ll settle for someone who will meet me for coffee and indulge my record buying habits.” Mostly I just don’t want to be alone. Even married, I spent so many years surviving on my own. I don’t want to go back to that. But I also don’t want to be someone’s everything. I need my space to be me.

“Baby steps.” Paige takes the phone from my hand and starts typing away. “Now let’s get you all set up so we can get to the fun part.”

“And what’s that?”

“Swiping.”

* * *

Two hours later and a bottle of wine, we moved from the kitchen to the couch after an almost disaster including my face and the corner of a butcher block cutting board, but according to Paige my dating profile is complete.

Paige should give up cleaning and be a matchmaker. People would pay good money for her insight. Heck, I’d date me based on this profile.

“Alright.” She thrusts my phone at me. “Go forth and swipe to your heart’s content.”

I stare at the phone like it’s grown hands and will pinch me the moment I grab it.

This is it.

The first step of a new chapter.

“I already set your presets based on what we talked about. Every guy that appears will all be looking for something casual that could become something more. And they’re into only women. Singular. Not looking to throw you into a poly situation just yet.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for that.”

A half smile tips the right side of her mouth. “Never say never.”

My eyes go wide and my jaw drops. “You?”

Paige cackles and nods behind her wine glass. “Before Anthony.”

There’s a part of me that wants to ask questions, but I’m not sure where to start so I keep them to myself and pin her with a conspiratorial smile. “The things I’m learning about you today.”

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