The conversation with my sister to find someone to date landed me with a dating coach. The trip to London was perfect timing because I was able to meet at her office. She wanted to know what I want in a man, so I brought her The Crush List.
It consists of things Chase specifically did in high school that made me fall for him, but not so specific that anyone would know it’s about him. Thankfully, I crossed out identifying details. Unfortunately, I left it there by accident, so Phoebe is going to pick it up for me.
My new dating coach and I have been texting back and forth ever since. She invited me to star as a contestant on her new show,Crush or Cupid. I suggested she write a book titled, “The Introverts Guide to Dating.” I feel like I have a new best friend until I receive a work email just before the flight attendants tell us to turn off our devices.
My stomach drops through open air and we haven’t even left the ground.
The email is from theCrush or Cupidproduction team, but it’s not about me. It contains instructions and potential love matches for Chase.
He’s the star of the show.
And the weird luck is back!
A little yelp, groan, and moan hybrid escapes.
“You okay?” Chase asks.
No. While we’re in Boston, a film crew is going to follow us around while he works his way through candidates for true love.
First, our parents try to arrange our marriage.
Then, Marlow and Mr. Collins conspire for them to get married.
Now, Chase will be on national television, going on dates with viewers voting on whether the various women are marriage material.
Talk about a tangled web. I’m nearing critical mass, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Never mind the fact that I’m trapped in a capsule being propelled across the Atlantic, I can’t make Chase, my parents, his parents, Marlow, or the television producers do anything. Helplessness paralyzes me.
I’m just one person—a person who will need a power boost if I’m going to make it through the next several weeks. But I will, because I always do. Then I’ll retreat to my sweet little apartment in the village outside Intherness and forget any of this ever happened.
Well, we all know I won’t forget about my crush, even if he finds his Cupid, but I’ll just have to live with that.
Expecting Chase to watch a movie, read, or go on his phone, he sits there for the next hour, staring ahead as if watching an old black and white silent picture of his life falling apart and there’s nothing he can do about it.
Same.
But I’m his coach. It’s my job to help him fix this.
“I don’t blame you for not wanting to marry Marlow,” I say.
Chase startles as though accustomed to how uncharacteristically quiet I’ve been lately. “That would be a nightmare.”
“But it doesn’t have to be.”
His gaze drifts toward me. “What do you mean?”
“I received an email about the show you’re starring in calledCrush or Cupid. The production team contact, Tory, sent me a catalog of potential matches. Filming starts when we get to Boston.” My voice sounds robotic because this isn’t the solution of my heart.
Chase’s face falls into his palm and he rubs his eyes. “Why is this happening?”
I swallow. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Let’s see. There’s Melissa. She’s a veterinarian and look, she’s adopted twelve cats. How altruistic.”
“I’m allergic.”
I scroll down. “Okay, how about Gwen? She’s a computer programmer and has maintained the highest score of anyone in her office on the video game WarStarUniverse. It says here that she’ll date whoever can beat her.”
“I don’t play video games.”
“You could learn.”
