Page 14 of Lucky
I ignore him and refresh again, grudgingly admitting to only myself that this behavior might be a little weird.But watching that dating challenge video has me somewhat obsessed.It’s like a puck to the chest—funny, honest but holding real truth.And then I went down the Winnie rabbit hole (no pun intended) where I watched video after video of her content.I grew transfixed as I watched her.
Videos of her in a messy bun, talking to her rabbit like he’s her therapist.One where she explains how to make “emotionally supportive tea.”I’m not even into tea.But I’ve watched that one three times.
Another where she breaks into giggles mid-rant about men who treat liking Taylor Swift as a personality.
Then there’s the one where she tries to DIY a bookshelf and ends up covered in wood glue.She didn’t edit it.Just laughed at herself, told Buttermilk he could have her house if she died of shame, and signed off with a wink.
How do you not become a little obsessed with someone who can laugh at themselves like that?
“Dude,” Atlas complains.“Are you working out or not?We’re supposed to grab lunch when you’re done and Penn and I are about ready to go.”
“Just a minute,” I say with a wave of my hand.Lunch can wait.
I refresh again and my blood zings through my body as a notification with her handle shows up.
I pump my fist.“Yes!There it is.”
“What?”Atlas exclaims, moving up behind me to look over my shoulder.Penn joins him, jostling to see better, but I shush them both before they can make any more noise.
I watch intently as the screen fills first with my face on a split screen—grinning, cocky, confident.
And there she is.Her hair is in a ponytail and she’s wearing makeup, although she’s not overly glammed up.“Okay, besties.Remember how I said I wanted one decent, average guy?Like, someone who drinks regular coffee and forgets where he put his car keys and maybe has mild back pain by thirty?”
“I’ve got mild back pain and I’m nowhere close to thirty,” Atlas says.
I ignore him as now Winnie is pointing at my profile.She smiles brightly.She’s freaking adorable.Hilarious.She’s also about to roast me.I can see it in the hard flicker of her eyes and the mischievous tilt to her lips.“This is @LuckyBranson69.He’s apparently a professional hockey player.I googled him.He has the requisite six-pack of an athlete, a verified checkmark, and the face of a man who has definitely been told he’s someone’s Roman Empire.And he’s apparently accepted my dating challenge.”
“She’s not wrong,” Penn wheezes.
I scowl but keep my eyes glued to the screen.“That doesn’t sound good,” I mutter in astonishment.
Winnie goes on—gently, self-deprecating, but clear.She doesn’t think I fit her ideal.Not average enough.Too shiny.
She thanks me, politely declines, and feeds her rabbit a piece of fuzzy lettuce.I watch the entire thing in stunned silence.
“She said no,” I say flatly, letting the phone drop to my thigh.
Atlas whistles.“I gotta say, I did not see that coming.”
“I’m confused,” Penn says, scratching his head, eyes roaming back and forth between me and Atlas.“Who is that?”
I don’t bother answering.I’m too busy trying to figure things out as I’m not ready to let this go.I hear Atlas explaining, “She’s like a TikTok person the way our buddy Lucky is, and she issued a dating challenge.Our boy wasn’t so lucky, though.He accepted the challenge and she turned him down.”
Penn winces.“Harsh, man.Sorry.”
I tap my phone on my chin, lost in thought.“I mean… what the hell is wrong with me?I’m being penalized for having a nice jawline?”
Penn raises an eyebrow.“No offense, bro.But you’re not what she’s looking for.”
“Why not?”I demand.“What’s so wrong with me?”
“You’re you,” Penn replies like that explains everything.“She said average.You’re… not that.”
“Why do you care so much?”Atlas adds, shifting to face me.“You’ve never chased a girl the entire time I’ve known you.”
I hesitate.
It’s not just the way she looks.Although yes—those hazel eyes and the way she bites her lip when she’s thinking does something to my soul.
