Page 15 of Lucky
But it’s more than that.
“She’s real,” I say, slow and honest, as if it’s a revelation I hadn’t seen coming.Yeah… that’s it.“She’s funny without trying to be.She talks to a rabbit like it’s a roommate and she’s not afraid to call herself average, but she’s clearly not.She’s brave and kind and smarter than half the people I know, and she has this… vibe.Like she’d show up to a gala with ChapStick and granola in her purse and make fun of the centerpieces.”
“How do you know all that?”Penn asks in amazement.
I roll my eyes at such an uneducated question.“Dude… you can learn everything you need to know about a person by watching their videos.She’s the real deal.”
Atlas blinks.“You’re smitten.”
“Am not,” I immediately correct him.“But I do love a challenge.”
Penn leans against the weight rack.“What are you going to do?”
I sit forward, elbows on my knees.“I think I’m going to prove her wrong.”
“About what?”
“About me.And about her.”
They exchange glances but it’s Atlas who asks, “What’s the end game?You going to get her to fall for you and then dump her?”
That hits hard and I deny it.“No.I wouldn’t do that.I want to show her there are decent guys out there who might be a little more than average.She’s not asking to find true love.Just a decent guy to date.I want to show her that average doesn’t mean safe or boring, or that she shouldn’t lower her expectations in any way.It can mean steady.It can mean good.And I want her to see herself the way I see her.”
I internally wince as soon as those words are out as I realize how deranged that sounds.I’ve never had a conversation with this woman and yet… okay, maybe I am a bit smitten already.Maybe it’s the fact she loves TikTok as much as I do?
Penn grins.“You’re in trouble, man.”
“Big time,” Atlas adds.
I shrug.“Worth it.Besides, what do I have to lose?”
Confidence renewed—because truly, what do I have to lose—I open TikTok and start recording.
I’m in a plain gym tee, sweaty hair sticking up, and no filter.I lift the camera and smile, lazy and direct.I stitch her last video and I don’t mince words or drag things out.
“I can be average,” I say with a devilish smile.“And I think you’re seriously discounting the value of snacks.”I lean closer.“I bet I can change your mind.”
I post it.No tag.No follow-up.Nothing I said invites a reply from her and I don’t expect one.
But I already know my plan.
Let the challenge continue.
I fill the guys in as I knock out my last set of squats.
Atlas eyes me warily after I’m finished.“Let me get this straight.You’re going to pretend to be average to win over a woman who doesn’t know you, barely acknowledged your existence, and kind of rejected you in front of the internet?When… you’re nowhere near average or even slightly normal?”
I nod.“Yup.”
Penn laughs.“You do realize this is insane, right?”
I wag my finger at him.“I prefer the labelbold romantic gesture.”
Atlas elbows me with a laugh.“You bringing a boom box too?Gonna stand outside her window like an eighties rom-com?”
“If I thought it would work, maybe.”
We all grab towels and head toward the locker room.I peel off my hoodie and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror—sweaty, flushed, kind of a mess.For once, I don’t mind the lack of polish.I want her to see me like this.
