"It's a perfect match."
"Perfect?" My voice is low and cautious. I need to proceed with caution here. These two are up to something, and I'm pretty sure I don't want anything to do with it. "Do not tell me you matched me with someone."
Neither of them speaks. They don't need to.
"You created a fake profile and?—"
"It's not fake," Jaxon says. "It's all you. We used your photos and all of your info. It's legit."
"Fuck you." I'm too tired to be really angry. But I am way too tired to deal with whatever they're trying to pull. Slowly, I stand and stretch my aching muscles. I need a hot shower and a good night's sleep. I donotneed to deal with these two assholes and whatever match-making game they're up to. "I'm out of here."
"You don't even want to know her name?"
"No."
"She's perfect," Jaxon says.
"Just look at a picture," Briggs tries.
"No." I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder as I pull the door open. I have one foot out when I hear Jaxon say, "I'll email you the login information in case you change your mind."
I won't.
Moments before the door slams behind me, I hear Briggs mutter, "Fuck, I hope he looks."
Ella
My dreams were full of cotton candy pink clouds chasing me through pools of balloons that popped all around me into puffs of glitter.
It was horrific. I don't even care that it's barely past five in the morning when I open my eyes to the safety of my non-pink bedroom. As a reflex, I reach for my phone. It takes my groggy mind a few seconds to realize what the new notification across my screen is for.
The words, "You have a match." In a bold blue banner.
A match?
A match!
No way. I never expected a match so quickly.
Or at all, if I'm being honest.
I stare at the notification banner for a few minutes before my brain finally wakes up enough to click on it.
I'm directed to the Mountain Mates app and my profile. A little heart flashes in the upper corner, indicating I have a match. Next to it, a little envelope is lit up, telling me I also have a message.
When Ava explained the site to me, she told me there were two sections. The 'listing' side where users can place ads and answer them. And the 'match' side where the system makes matches based on a checklist of compatibility and personality traits. I splurged and signed up for the matching side because the idea of scrolling throughwife-wantedads scares the hell out of me.
I don't really know exactly how it works, but I know it's not like a regular dating website, where you can just swipe left or right. Which means...
Something about my profile actually matches with this guy.
My heart is racing as I click on the envelope icon first.
Hi, Ella. It looks like we're a match.
Like a twelve-year-old, I let out a squeal and kick my heels against the mattress before I keep reading.
My name is Jamie. I'd love to get to know you better.
