Page 74 of Mine Again

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We met a few weeks ago. You gave me your card. I’ve been meaning to reach out.

Ugh. That sounds like I’m trying to network, not start a secret mission.

I delete it again and drop the phone on my pillow. This shouldn’t be this hard.

After a minute, I pick it back up and try something more casual.

Hi. You said I should message you. So I’m messaging. Hello.

I actually wince at that one and press backspace furiously. What am I doing?

And he told me to call, not message him.

One more try.

Hi. This is Isa, the girl you gave yourcard to at the Zucchero Café. I’m not selling anything. I promise.

Okay, better, but still a bit awkward.

Wait.

Oh no.

I never told him my name.

I sit there, staring at the screen in horror.

Crap. How is he supposed to know who I am?

He gave me his number. I never gave him mine. No name. No last name. Not even a fake one.

Fantastic. Now I’mmystery girl number 473.

Should I send a picture? Notthatkind, of course.

No, that’s a terrible idea. Still, I scroll my gallery. There are the pictures I took for the dating app.

Again, no. That was a disaster. I don’t want to curse myself with those. In fact, I’ll delete them.

“Get it together,” I mutter to myself. “No pictures.”

Back to the message. I tack on one final line.

P.S. I realize I never told you my name. Oops. If you don’t remember me, just ignore this message and I’ll pretend it never happened. Great. Cool. Okay, bye.

I hit send before I can stop myself and throw the phone across the bed like it might explode.

Well, that’s done.

I flop back onto the mattress, groaning into my pillow.

God help me if he actually replies.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Isabella

God, what did I do?

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