I twisted my lip, looking over the list again and then shrugged. I had no clue what to even say to anyone.
“What do I say?”
“Just say hi, Janelle. It’s not complicated, so don’t over think it.”
“Right, I can do this.” I responded back to a few people, already seeing some that wouldn’t hold my interest for long.
I sat down on the patio furniture, hearing the sliding glass door close and then scrolled through, looking at some pictures and names, and then stopping on one that lived about nine hours north of me.
“Oh, you have photos of the area,” I muttered, clicking on some photos, my breath catching at the beauty that he claimed was his front porch. “Yeah, I could sip my coffee out there and just daydream for hours on end.”
I jumped as the phone pinged and a notification popped up, showing a new message. I clicked on it, seeing that it was the guy that had the view and I gasped.
Happy Birthday, beautiful.
Thank you.
I’m Christian.
I tapped on his profile picture, my heart doing double time as I took in his strong arms which I had no doubt could carry my weight and hold me up like I needed to be.
Nice to meet you, I’m Janelle. What’s a man like you doing on Mountain Mates?
I’m looking for a bride to fill my lonely cabin and my lonely heart.
“I’m totally fine being alone, Mason, get off the subject already.”
“Don’t lie, Christian. You’re still young and you have that huge cabin to yourself.”
“Do you have a point?” I asked, getting more annoyed the longer I stayed talking to him.
“Just try it.”
I frowned as he handed me his phone, seeing the app open, and I slowly shook my head. I didn’t need to be on a dating app.
Sure, the hook ups were getting old, but a dating app? Wasn’t there a decent female around these parts that he could find.
“Hey, Christian, are you wanting some company?” someone asked. I glanced over my shoulder, seeing Susan walk over and I frowned.
Okay, maybe there just wasn’t any hope for that here. I turned my attention back to Mason who was taking a sip of his beer. With his free hand, he pushed his phone forward and I took it, looking at it again. With a defeated sigh, I took my own phone, downloading the app as well.
What could it hurt?
I’d give it a try and let him know how much it sucked and that finding anyone real and wanting to move out here would never happen.
I made a profile, adding a selfie I had taken a few days back and then adding some of my cabin and the woods surrounding it, then explaining how tired I was of one-night stands and wanting someone real and warm to hold onto at night.
With that, giving my friend a scowl, I shoved his phone in my pocket. I wasn’t ready to start browsing over the ladies, and I sure didn’t want to do it in the company of my friend, because I knew I would never hear the end of it.
At least this way, when I was home, and it failed, I could be honest. But if Mason saw me looking, it would never be lived down. And I couldn’t deal with that.
Two days later, I sat on the porch of my cabin, staring at the sunset, smiling at the serene feeling that washed over me and for the umpteenth time, I wished I had someone to share it with. I glanced at my phone, staring back at me, almost mocking me.
With a sigh, I picked it up and opened the app, thinking that it wouldn’t work and anyone that I would even talk to would be crazy.
I swiped through a few pictures, landing on a female named Janelle. She was gorgeous, with a smile that would knock someone over sideways and big, brown eyes that looked like melted honey. I tapped on her profile, liked it, and then saw it was her birthday.
I twisted my lip for just a moment before taking a chance.
