“What do Ido?”
“You wait,” Erica said. “You gotta wait. Some guys swipe on everyone. Wait until the show is over and then message him if he hasn’t unmatchedyet.”
“Okay, I can dothat.”
“Actually, give me your phone so you won’t be tempted,” Erica said, holding out her hand. “Watch Jeanna try and sabotage Lauren B. on this group date coming up after the commercialbreak.”
“Okay. That’s a good idea.” Shae let out a deep breath, then handed her phone back to Erica. She picked up her fork and decided to focus on the bizarre mating ritual unfolding on the TV screen in front of her instead of her own pathetic lovelife.
?
Thanksto the shit show that wasPrince Charming: New Zealand, Shae managed to pretend that she wasn’t thinking about what was happening inside her phone for the rest of the night. Or at least until she got in bed a few hours later. She turned off her bedside lamp and lay under her covers, staring at her phone. It had been two hours and she, and Aidan were stillmatched.
The words MESSAGE AIDAN taunted her. She looked at his pictures again instead. He was really cute. The worst that could happen was him ignoring her and her feeling a little embarrassed for a few hours. The truth was, she had nothing to lose. And Joanna did pray to Santa and Mrs.Claus.
Just message him, she told herself. Shae clicked the little menu on the side of his profile and brought up the empty chat box betweenthem.
Hey! Looks like we have amatch.
She typed quickly, adding the smiling emoji with its tongue sticking out, then hit send before she could stop herself. Then she set her phone back on her bedside table. She knew what would happen next. He'd either see her message and immediately unmatch with her, realizing he'd swiped right on someone he had a first hand non-attraction to, or he'd message her back something crazy like his laxed opinions on gun control or our need for border walls. Then she’d have to block him and delete the app for at least a week to recover from the knowledge that yet another man had turned out to be adisappointment.
And honestly, that’s where she went wrong—getting prematurely invested in anything that could leave her feeling disappointed. “Turn the hopes down a little there, boo,” she said to herself as she rolled over to face thewall.
Five minutes later, her phone vibrated. Shae’s eyes popped open. She was mimicking sleep to encourage her body to relax, but the buzz of the notification had her alert as ever. She grabbed her phone and looked at thescreen.
You have a message fromAidan.
“Okay. Chill out. Just chill out. He’s probably just saying hello.” Shae sat up and unlocked her phone, opening the MATCHED app. There was definitely a response fromAidan.
Hey! I thought you weremarried.
Shae’s eye twitched as she started typing her response. She wished people just knew she'd gotten a divorce so she didn't have to talk about it anymore. Hopefully Aidan wouldn’t have any follow up questions once sheclarified.
Was. Married nomore.
Shae stared at her phone for a minute and just when she realized he might not be sitting in bed hanging on her every word, those three little bubbles poppedup.
I'm really sorry to hearthat.
Unless it's a goodthing.
Definitely a goodthing.
Glad to be back outthere.
Kinda.
This app isterrible.
She added the laughing emoji with the tears squeezing out of the corners of itseyes.
Have toagree.
Present companyexcluded.
Ofcourse.
Ofcourse.
