Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“So, time to start texting.”
“Shouldn’t I wait for him to text me first?” I ask. Truthfully, I don’t want to text anybody. Maybe if it was the silver-fox stranger… I didn’t even get my savior’s name.
That thought annoys me. He’s not my savior. I don’t need saving.
But the point is valid. I shouldn’t—I don’t—need anybody else. Do I?
I replay Cleo’s words in my mind. Keep it casual.
“Oh my giddy gawd,” Cleo says, giggling. “Lily, are my eyes deceiving me? Is she really doing it? Is she texting?”
“Hush, you’ll break the spell,” Lily hisses.
I roll my eyes as I type a simple, purposefully casual message.
Tori: I hope you’re not expecting heart emojis, stranger.
“Mine has texted me back already,” Cleo says excitedly.
“What was your opening gambit?” Lily asks. “Wait, let me guess. It was some variation of ‘Meet me around back in five minutes.’”
“Wow, Lily, I’m hurt.”
“I’m sorry. I was kidd—”
“I told him ten minutes.” Cleo grins.
That gets us all laughing like hyenas. As I wait for a reply, I look around the bar. Some people are still dancing and talking, but many are staring at their phones, smiles on their faces, caught up in the Valentine’s spirit.
The silver fox savior sits with his friend at the end of the bar, looking so dashing I can’t look at him for long. Just the sight of him confuses me. It makes me feel like…
Face facts, Tori. It makes me feel like Mom.
“So, lay it on us,” Lily says, drawing my attention. “What did you really say?”
“I asked him if he thought this was as lame as I do… you know, playing it cool,” Cleo explains.
“But you don’t think it’s lame,” Lily says. “You were the most excited out of any of us.”
“Newsflash, Lily: being honest with your date from the get-go is a recipe for disaster.”
“I happen to disagree with that profoundly,” Lily retorted.
My phone vibrates. It’s my Valentine's stranger.
Valentine Stranger: Don’t worry. I wasn’t expecting a damn thing. If you want the truth, I think this is a waste of time. I don’t want to spoil your evening, but you might be better off texting somebody else.
Wow, talk about grumpy. And here I was, thinking I was the most negative person in this joint.
Tori: I can’t do that since we’ve only got each other’s numbers.
Valentine Stranger: I don’t want to disappoint you.
It’s difficult to keep it casual when he’s being so stubbornly grumpy.
Tori: What’s your favorite color?
Valentine Stranger: Laugh out loud. Did you seriously just ask me that?
Tori: You just typed ‘laugh out loud’ instead of using LOL. Don’t try to take the moral high ground here.
Valentine Stranger: LOL makes me feel like an angsty teenager texting my crush.
Tori: Are you always this serious?
“Lily, is she smiling?” Cleo teases.
“Hush,” Lily says. “Don’t break the spell.”
Heck, they’re right. I’ve got an unabashed grin on my face, and no way to deny it.
It’s not my fault this guy is the grumpiest person in the universe.
Valentine Stranger: I’m not one for games.
Tori: Why? Been played before, huh?
“Hmm, I may have struck a sore point,” I mutter when he doesn’t reply for a few minutes.
“Can I see?” Cleo asks.
I overreact, holding the phone to my chest.
“Message received. Getting spicy already?” Cleo says, holding up her hands in surrender.
I shake my head. “No, but my texts are private, thank you very much.”
“Your silver fox has been on his phone, by the way,” Lily chimes.
I turn, casually glancing in his direction, but he’s leaning broodily against the bar. Several women are sneaking glances at him, probably hoping he’s their secret texter. It shouldn’t bother me, especially since I’ve solemnly vowed to be casual. But maybe it bothers me just a little—the teensy tiniest amount.
“He’s not now,” I say.
“Have you received any texts back?” Cleo asks.
“Nope.”
“I’ll sneakily watch him. When he’s on his phone, if you get a text, we’ll know it’s him,” she says conspiratorially.
“That would be fate,” Lily says confidently. I must make a face because she asks, “What?”
“I know you have your beliefs, but I don’t think fate has anything to do with this.”
“The guy who saved you happens to be your secret Valentine? Come on, Tori…” Lily presses.
“There were like thirty people who joined the text-a-thon. Hardly lottery odds,” I grumble.
“He’s on his phone,” Cleo whisper-shouts.
A moment later, my phone vibrates.
“Fate,” Lily says, making a face at me.
Valentine Stranger: Let’s just say I’ve learned not to play games. That way, winning OR losing is out of the question.
Tori: Sometimes, stranger, you don’t have to take things so seriously. You can just go with the flow and be casual.
Valentine Stranger: Maybe I’m not interested in casual.
Tori: But you’re not interested in anything serious, either?
“There’s that smile again,” Cleo comments and then looks down at her phone. “My guy is very interested. I wonder if he’s hot. Silver fox is still on his phone, FYI.”