Page 64 of Hooking the Captain
I nodded. “Yeah. I hope those layoff rumors aren’t true.”
“We should go out for drinks tonight no matter what happens,” James suggested. “It’s been a stressful day.”
“Definitely,” I replied, looking forward to hanging out after work.
Ever since I had come out to my parents six months ago, it had felt as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. And while I still went out for drinks with my friends, like any other twenty-three-year-old, I no longer felt like I needed alcohol to numb my pain. I’d even gone on a few dates with men, and while I hadn’t connected with anyone yet, I no longer felt afraid to explore my sexuality openly.
Finally, our CEO, Mr. Zimmer, strode into the room with Mr. Boyd—my boss from the Boston office—following closely behind him. All conversation stopped instantly, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Mr. Boyd’s presence was a good or bad sign for what would come next.
Mr. Zimmer took his place at the front of the room, adjusting his tie before clearing his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today. We actually have some exciting news to share. Shipley Innovations, the popular app developer, has chosen our firm to market its new inclusive dating app, The Click.”
A collective sigh of relief rose from the crowd, and the energy in the room shifted from anxiousness to excitement.
Mr. Boyd stepped forward to address the group. “We believe The Click has the potential to revolutionize the dating industry by providing a safe space for individuals of all backgrounds and orientations to connect with one another while placing a high priority on privacy. And we have promised Shipley Innovations that we intend to make it the go-to dating app when it releases in October. However, in order to truly make an impact, we need a dedicated group of employees who will devote themselves to the project for the next few months. That’s why we are looking for anyone willing to relocate to our Boston office and join the team responsible for bringing The Click to life.”
I couldn’t help but feel the flutter of excitement as Mr. Boyd uttered those words. Getting the chance to work on a groundbreaking dating app alone would be a great professional opportunity, but being able to move home was a dream come true.
I raised my hand. “I’ll go.”
Four months had passedsince I returned to Boston, and I was standing in my apartment, getting ready for the much-anticipated launch party for The Click. Our team had put a lot of effort into the app’s release, and we were excited to see it finally released to the public. With one last look in the mirror, I adjusted my bow tie and straightened my tuxedo jacket before heading out to meet my rideshare.
Pulling up to the venue, I stepped out of the car and was greeted by colleagues and friends from both our marketing firm and Shipley Innovations. Stepping inside the hotel ballroom, I immediately saw a sea of teal and silver—the colors of the app—decorating the space and heard a DJ already pumping up the crowd. The party was the perfect way to cap off hundreds of hours of hard work.
I spotted James and Kaylee, who had both transferred to Boston as well, across the room, so I grabbed a glass of champagne from one of the many servers walking around and made my way over to them. As I approached, James gave me a wide grin and raised his glass in greeting.
“Cheers! We did it!”
Kaylee clinked her champagne flute against mine. “To The Click and all of our hard work paying off!”
“I’ll drink to that,” I replied.
Looking around the room, I saw several tables set up where representatives from Shipley Innovations were on hand to demonstrate how the app worked.
“You thinking of signing up?” Kaylee asked when she noticed what had caught my attention.
The two of us hadn’t hooked up in months. In fact, she had been dating someone since shortly after we moved back to the States, but she was still one of my closest friends. She also knew I hadn’t had much luck dating, and she often tried to play matchmaker.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never done the online dating thing before.”
“But it might be worth a shot,” James chimed in. “Especially with an app that’s all about inclusivity. You never know who you might meet.”
He had a point. The Click boasted its algorithm matched people based on their preferences and interests instead of selecting someone based on looks at first glance.
Kaylee nudged me playfully. “Come on, live a little! You’ve been working so hard on this project. It’s time for some fun.”
Before I had a chance to agree, Mr. Shipley, CEO of Shipley Innovations, took the stage. His voice boomed through the speakers as he addressed the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for being here tonight to celebrate the launch of The Click. We created this app intending to bring people together by fostering connections that may not have been possible otherwise. Whether you’re looking for love or simply new friendships, we believe The Click has the power to change lives.”
The room erupted in applause, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for playing a minor role in the project.
And maybe I would join after all.
Later that night,while in bed looking at social media, I decided to download The Click. After setting up my profile, I closed the app and stared at the screen for a moment, contemplating whether I would actually pursue someone online. But as I lay there, thinking about how excited everyone had been at the party, I realized The Click presented a unique opportunity. The app wasn’t just about finding love; it was about embracing one’s true self and connecting with others who understood and accepted it.
Taking a deep breath, I reopened the app and started exploring its features. The interface made it easy to navigate and customize my preferences. As I swiped through potential matches who didn’t have profile pics, each profile felt like a window into someone else’s world, highlighting their interests, passions, and desires. And I suddenly hoped I wouldclickwith someone.
The following afternoon,while I was making lunch, a notification from The Click popped up on my phone. My lips turned upwards into a small smile when I saw a message request from RedSoxFan_28.
RedSoxFan_28: Hey there! I came across your profile and couldn’t resist reaching out to a fellow Red Sox fan
