Page 47 of Off the Wall
Memorable moment:We couldn’t figure out the final clue, and I laughed so hard, I almost wet my pants.
Overall score out of 10:Solid 7.5. Which is still a C, but Miles was hilarious, and a sense of humor is my favorite thing. Well, that and easy access to a bathroom.
Name:Quentin
Date and location:Seasonal Wreath Designing at Hollie’s Hobbies.
Best adjectives to describe the date:Very crafty (him). Very NOT-crafty (me).
Memorable moment:I was so bad at adhesion, I had to request a second bottle of glue.
Overall score out of 10:6.5. Quentin was super-cute and patient. But he deserves an artsier woman.
Name:Clayton
Date and Location:Making candles at Custom Candles in the Spring Valley mall.
Best adjectives to describe the date:Rashy (him). Mortified (me).
Memorable moment:Poor Clayton turned out to be highly allergic to the cinnamon bark oil I chose for my candle. He started wheezing before I even started dipping.
Overall score out of 10:Too short-lived to tell. But at least Swipe Rite got cute footage of us before the hives broke out.
Chapter Sixteen
Nori
“Good morning, Nori.”
Jemma’s sporting cat-eye glasses, a sleek topknot, and red lipstick for our check-in Zoom. Meanwhile, I’m in pajamas, sipping coffee, and I haven’t brushed my teeth. Hopefully she won’t decide I’m not up to the standards of Swipe Rite’s singles.
I suppose I could’ve at least brushed my hair.
“So.” She presses her lips together. “How’s our Spring Into Love girl doing?”
“I’m all good.Loveyour frames.”
“Thank you. I do too.” She arches her brow behind her lenses. “But how are you, really? Tell me everything.”
I set down my mug. “I’mreallygreat,” I chirp.
This isn’t a total lie. In fact, Spring Valley Auto called first thing this morning to say the parts they ordered should arrive early next week, so I’m seeing the light at the end of the car repair tunnel. And thanks to Swipe Rite, I’m five thousand dollars closer to covering the gap in my business loan.
“That’s what we love to hear.” Jemma straightens, pulling back from the screen. “I’m happy to report our signups havegone up three hundred percent since we kicked off the campaign. And our sponsors are seeing increased revenue too. Everyone is thrilled by the early results of the promotion.” She smiles at me primly. “We just want to be sure things continue on a positive trajectory.”
“I do too.” I bob my head. And I mean it. I need the next five thousand dollars coming to me.
Jemma tips her chin. “What are your thoughts on our posts about your dates so far? I assume you’re checking in on all our platforms to see what we’ve been running. Are the posts all right? The videos? Do our captions capture your voice? Is the copy acceptable to you?”
This question makes my palms itch, but I decide to go with another honest answer. “I actually haven’t looked at any of the posts,” I admit. “On any of the platforms.”
“None?”
“You know how it is, seeing yourself in pictures and videos. There’s always the risk of self-judgment. Women can be so hard on themselves, right?”
What I don’t tell Jemma is I’m worried my smiles and laughter might look forced. Maybe not to anyone else, but to me. After all, I know how I actually feel on those dates, and watching myself be inauthentic could make continuing more difficult.
Four men down, six to go. Just a few more weeks.
