I’ve always liked a challenge. How about this: we don’t give out any identifying details whatsoever. That way, we don’t let any outside influences color the way things develop between us.
It was an intriguing offer. Just enough to pique Eva’s interest, just enough to have her second-guessing her decision to delete it.All right, she wrote, smile still firmly in place.I’m in.
* * *
Lily smiled at the message thread with QueenElsa35. She hadn’t talked to many people on the app—hadn’t used it much at all, in truth, only scrolling through when she was bored—and this was the first time Lily felt like it was going well.
Too often, conversation faded after the initial hello, both counterparts scrambling for something to say, something to catch the others’ attention—made even more difficult when there wasn’t much public information on some of the profiles.
But this one seemed to be going well, if she did say so herself, and pulling Lily’s attention away from the term papers open on her coffee table, calling out to be marked.
Big Disney fan?
Lily hoped her replies weren’t too fast, that she didn’t seem too eager—and hated herself for second-guessing things the second she’d sent the message.
That was what Lily hated the most about dating: the uncertainty of it all. At least talking to people online omitted the crushing feeling of rejection when someone turned you down face-to-face. With this, only Lily would know if things went terribly wrong.
Disney?
Your username. Elsa? From Frozen?
Lily wasn’t much of a Disney fan herself, but even she knew that movie, advertised to within an inch of its life a few years ago.
Oh. No,came the reply.My friend set this profile up for me and thought it was a hilarious username for me.
Lily was intrigued.
Because?
She calls me an ice queen.
And are you?
It’s not an inaccurate statement.
Strange, what you could decide about another person by the words they strung together. Elsa seemed well-educated—especially in the sciences, if her comments on Rosalind Franklin were anything to go by. Maybe on the older side, though her age wasn’t listed.
I bet I could get you to melt.
Strange, too, how confident Lily could feel, typing on a screen. Lily was never so self-assured when trying to chat up women in real life, but with the protection not having to look them in the eye offered, she felt invincible.
You are full of lines, aren’t you?
Oh, I’m just getting started,Lily replied, smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.Unless you’d like me to stop.
Lily held her breath as the bubbles appeared, hoping Elsa wasn’t about to turn her down.
When I opened this app, I was going to delete it,read the message, and Lily felt her stomach plummet.But I suppose I can stick around. See you make a fool out of yourself for a while longer. I should warn you, though: I’m not looking for anything serious.
What are you looking for?
I don’t know.
Well,Lily typed, feeling lighter than she had in a long, long time.How about we start out as friends, and see how things go from there?
I suppose I could use a few more of those.
Chapter 8
