I carefully run through all the letters I haven’t used, trying to guess the second letter, at least. GQ, GW, GY, GS...
None of them make any sense.
Argh.
My phone dings again.
“Is that your parents?” John asks. “Are they back from New Zealand?”
“Nah, not for a couple more weeks,” I say. I swipe to my texts. “It’s just a group chat with my old university friends.” I swipe back to Wordle, but a moment later, the bell at the front desk chimes. I look toward it with a sigh. “I should get that.”
John nods. “Let me know if you want more hints.”
I help the customer out front, who needs a copy of their receipt for their insurance company. By the time I’m done, John’s gone back to work as well. I pour myself a cup of coffee and take it to my desk. I stare at Wordle for a little while before I shake my head. I’m totally blocked. Best to come back to it later.
I swipe open the group chat with Fallon, Divya, and Martha to see all the texts I missed.
[12:32]Fallon:Oooh, Emily, have you finally found a man?
I roll my eyes. Thanks, Fallon.
[12:32]Fallon:Jk girl
[12:32]Fallon:Sooo exciting
[12:33]Fallon:There’s no such thing as the one, though, that’s made-up Disney bullshit
[12:41]Martha:You’re such a cynic, Fallon!
[12:41]Martha:Don’t listen to her, Em. Soulmates are 100% real. I would know!
I grimace at my phone. Yuck. I think I preferred Fallon’s insult.
[12:43]Divya:lollll
Okay, that’s the least helpful of the three. And that’s not saying much, because none of them actually answered my question. I’m frowning at my phone, wondering if it’s even worth answering, when it dings again.
[1:17]Martha:Just make sure he has the same family values as you do. That’s all that really matters.
The same family values... like, if he wants kids or not? He already told me he doesn’t think he does, same as me. But it feels like there should be a few more criteria than that for deciding if someone’s “the one.” The weird clerk at the Waldon liquor store who always stares at my breasts probably doesn’t want kids either. Doesn’t mean I’m going to wind up withhim.
Fallon sends an eye-roll emoji.
[1:18]Fallon:That’s not ALL that matters
[1:18]Fallon:You need someone who has the same interests as you
[1:18]Fallon:Like me and Ethan
[1:18]Fallon:We both love business and fitness
I drum my fingers on the desk. John and I definitely don’t have all the same interests. We have Wordle, yes, but other than that, we’re pretty much polar opposites. He likes motorcycle races (spare me), and camping (kill me), and cars (yawn). But I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Plus, my tastes are pretty eclectic. I doubt I’m ever going to find a twenty-seven-year-old guy who likes doing puzzles, learning French, and watchingAnne of Green Gables.
[1:22] Hmm, interesting. Thanks!
(And yes, that’s a lie. I’m just being polite, okay?)
[1:22] Divya, what do you think?
