Prologue
Penny
A Few Months Ago
Was this a terrible idea? Maybe.
Okay, yes, it was. But I’m a romantic at heart, and my best friend deserves to find love. Talking her into creating a profile on a dating app may have backfired when she told me she would only do it if I did it too. But what’s the harm in putting myself out there one more time? It’s not like I have to actually followthrough.
Jordan just left to walk home from our bi-weekly girls’ night, and I peek in on my four-year-old daughter to make sure she’s sound asleep. Sometimes she likes to stay up and spy on Jordan and me after I’ve put her to bed for the night. I don’t mind, but I don’t necessarily like her listening in on some of our adult conversations either. She’s getting to be too smart for her own good, and clearly, she’s learning more than I bargained for when she told Jordan that she has a resting bitch face.
I mentally face-palm myself at the memory from only a few hours ago.
I slip into my old college t-shirt and a pair of sleep shorts and head to the living room. I usually wind myself down at night with a romance book or trashy TV, and tonight, I choose the latter.
I’m about to turn the TV on when my phone buzzes. It’s a message from the person I matched with on the dating app.
I only swiped right on one person tonight to appease Jordan, not convinced enough to be an active participant on the app, even though I said I would be. The guy I swiped right on didn’t show his face, just his tattooed body. A very masculine, hot, tattooed body. What are the chances he swiped right on me, too? I guess pretty good since we matched. I’m honestly surprised because I didn’t show a picture of my face either. Just one that Jordan took of me from behind, when I was sitting on the beach at sunset one day. The chance that this guy was going to match with me based on my picture was slim to none, but here we are.
I always get a little nervous talking to men, and butterflies dance in my stomach as I open the chat box. Since I didn’t show my face or use my real name, I suppose I can bail out of the conversation at any time without feeling bad. I always feel guilty ghosting people because what if I see them on the street?
Sometimes I think I’m too nice.
Dec Y: Hey
Pen W: Hi.
Good one, Penny.
Dec Y: I’m Dec.
Pen W: I’m Pen.
Face palm.
Dec Y: So, are you new to the app?
Pen W: I am. This app at least. I’ve tried online dating before. It didn’t work out, though.
Dec Y: Let me guess… the sex was terrible?
Pen W: Let’s just say the catfishing was next level.
Dec Y: That’s never good. Why don’t you have a picture of your face? Trying to catfish me?
Pen W: I could ask you the same question…
Dec Y: I try not to show all my cards up front.
Pen W: I get it. You have the face of an ogre. No worries. I’m looking for someone with a good personality anyway.
Dec Y: And Blondie has jokes. Cute.
Pen W: I didn’t put a picture of my face on the app because I want my soulmate to get to know my personality first.
Lies.
Dec Y: Soulmate? That’s pretty bold. Does that mean you think people only want you for your looks? Kind of conceited if you ask me.
