Philip:Can we talk? I know I fucked up. X
I screwed my face up, ignoring the message, and pressed record, running back to the sofa.
Katy began, ‘My name is Katy, and these are my friends, Ella and Zola, and we want to tell you our side of the story.’
I jumped in next. ‘We were brought over to New York to develop and create a dating app that would help Americans really find true love. And we put together a way to finally eliminate time-wasters and spot abusers or narcissists before having to meet them. We had the privilege of working with Flirtify, one of the largest technology companies in the United States, and together we created something magnificent.’
Zola tilted her head dramatically, then faced the camera. ‘Unfortunately things turned sour. We held a pre-launch party with investors, influencers and the media to reveal how our app, Stars and Swipes, would change the way dating works today. However, during the pre-launch, the media launched a bitter attack on us, on the integrity of our characters, and they didn’t hold back in spreading untrue stories.’
Katy rubbed her eyes as if she were in tears. ‘We will attach some of the awful headlines below,’ she said with a demure sob.Jesus, I thought,give this gal an Oscar. ‘And this caused two major investors to pull out, making our app unable to launch this Thanksgiving.’
I rubbed Zola’s shoulder, then returned to the camera. ‘Stars and Swipes is an app for safeguarding both women and men, and we don’t understand who has leaked false information, but someone out there is trying hardnotto protect the American people. Last year alone, thirty-one per cent of women were assaulted by someone they met on a dating app. Thirty-one per cent!’
Katy shook her head, sorrowfully. ‘And Stars and Swipes, the app for the people, for you, hasn’t been allowed to launch. So, I ask why? Who doesn’t want to protect you? Why have they spread such horrible rumours about us?’
‘We have been stalked, threatened and humiliated, all while someone out there has tried to force us to leave this app alone. But we will not stand down, we are determined to share our story.’
I stood up and paused the recording. ‘We smashed that.’ I grinned proudly to my friends. ‘And amazing emotion from both of you!’
Zola smirked, flicking back her hair. ‘It is true, though, even if all we do is clear our names, then it’s got to be worth a shot.’
Once it was uploaded, I sat back on the sofa with my friends, scrolling through photos of Jimmy and me in my camera roll. I wondered how he was holding up and whether I should reach out. But I understood that he needed space. So much had happened between us that was unfixable now, especially as the reality of returning home to Glasgow loomed closer, but I cared for him and wanted to make sure he was OK, regardless of how things had unravelled between us.
My phone pinged again.
Philip:Are you home? Or still in NYC?
‘Ewww! Leave me alone!’ I screamed at my device.
Zola laughed, lifting her head. She had been playing the video we just made on repeat, commenting back to everyone to help the algorithm prioritise us. ‘Philip?’
I nodded. ‘Yep!’
Zola returned to her screen, then sat bolt upright. ‘No way! Flirtify have reposted our video!’ She gasped. ‘They have two million followers!’
Katy lunged over our laps. ‘Shut up!’
I grinned, grateful for the repost. I wasn’t sure if Jimmy would have been pissed about the video, especially since it heightened the drama around his company. But I was glad he reposted it, and relief washed through me, knowing his anger wasn’t directed at us anymore.
I snuck off into my bedroom, took out my phone and messaged him.
Ella:I know how difficult that must have been today. Thinking of you x
I hovered, staring at my message as he read it almost instantly, but nothing came back. My breath caught – what was he thinking? I sat frozen, hope and dread battling inside me, desperate for even a single word to confirm he was all right.
After a while Zola and Katy drifted in, both still staring at their phones.
Zola laughed. ‘The comments are gold!’
Katy grinned. ‘It’s been shared three thousand times.’
They dived into my bed, cuddling up with me, as we watched the number of views climb, knowing we were slowly clearing our name.
‘Guys,’ Zola said eventually, popping down her phone. ‘We do have to think about going home,’ she said. ‘Our work is done, and we can’t stay here forever.’
I shimmied down the bed, knowing she was right but feeling a pang of sadness at the reality of leaving. Returning home meant facing uncertainty, facing a small apartment. It meant facing a city where Jimmy Link was thousands of miles away.
Katy sighed. ‘Let’s look at flights tomorrow. Today, let’s just enjoy going viral.’
