Page 52 of Never Started
"Well, it has to load, V. Wait, here we go... What the fuck?"
"What?"
"What kind of response is that?"
"Tell me what it says, Izzy!"
"He said, 'Meet up with me, and I'll remind you.'"
"What? Holy hell, Iz." She gasps. "Did you sleep with this guy and don't remember?" Via slaps her hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh, which earns her another playful shove from me.
"Fuck all the way off," I grumble. "I did not sleep with him. I... think."
She's unable to hold it back any longer. A genuine guttural laugh bursts from her, and I can't help but join in. Tears are rolling down both of our cheeks by the time our laughter settles.
"So... How are you going to respond?" Via asks.
I throw her a look that screams,Do you not know me by now?, and she chuckles again.
She deadpans, "You're going to meet him, aren't you?"
"Fucking duh."
I pick up my phone again and type a message out to Mister Mysterious:
"Open Tap Bar. 7 pm. I don't wait."
I quickly hit send before I can talk myself out of it.
I know I recognize this guy from somewhere. I can't place it, though. Normally, I wouldn't care at all, but his reply intrigues the hell out of me. Now, I have to give him a go.
His reply bounces back before I can lock my phone:
"Yes, ma'am."
What the actual hell am I about to willingly walk into?
Chapter twenty-three
Izzy
August 2022
Pulling down my visor, I take a quick glance at myself in the mirror and reapply my lip gloss.
It feels weird being back in my old stomping grounds. Via and I were certain that after leaving for college, we wouldn't return to Sugarland. The truth is, I missed home. Part of me believes she did, too. She's handled the idea and the reality of coming back better than I could have expected.
It's almost been cathartic for us both, in a sense.
Which is wild, being that it was the one place we were trying to escape from when lifeshifted.
Closing the visor, I glance at the clock and chuckle to myself.
7:58 p.m.
Two minutes to go.
I've done this since I started using these online dating apps. The ones who are truly interested will wait. The ones who probably won't want to make it to the bedroom anyway will bail.
