Page 99 of Off the Wall
Nori nods, then she inhales deeply. “So, we’re agreed then,” she breathes out. “You’ll be my tenth date, and I’ll choose you to be my final match?”
“I’m in,” I say. “Let’s tell Jemma.”
Nori cracks her knuckles like she’s about to go ten rounds in a boxing ring. Meanwhile, my hands are on my knees as Nori makes the call. She begins by apologizing profusely for the video mishap, even though the whole situation wasn’t her fault. Or mine either, for that matter. Then she goes on toexplain that she and I are just a couple of friends who happened to be at the same wedding together.
“Nota couple,” she reiterates—a little too clearly. “A couple offriends.”
When Nori pauses to let Jemma respond, I realize I’m holding my breath.
“Really? Wow.” Her eyes go wide. “Even more than the Sir Axe-A-Lot posts?” There’s another long pause. “I guess the video turned out to be a good thing, then.” She presses out a weak laugh, and I exhale.
Apparently my Frankendance with Nori didn’t destroy the universe after all.
“Yes. About Silver Springs,” she continues. “We have an idea.” She gulps, then proceeds to lay out our plan.
First I’ll create a Swipe Rite profile.
Next the marketing team can make me Nori’s tenth date.
Then Nori will pick me to be her final match, answering the burning question #WhoWillNoriChoose.
“And everybody wins,” she concludes.
At this point, I wish we were on speaker so I could hear Jemma’s reaction. But after a full minute, I’m relieved to be on this side of the conversation. The woman sure has a lot to say about square dancing at a retirement community.
I lift my brow, flashing Nori a thumbs-up. “Everything good?” I mouth.
She nods slowly.
I officially have permission to date her.
“Of course,” she says, after another long stretch of listening. “That all makes sense. And I’ll be sure to thank Cash for you.”
Something loosens in my chest, and my heart begins to swell. Not that I’m kidding myself about our future. Nori still wants a serious relationship, and my situation isn’t exactlyuncomplicated. But at least we aren’t forbidden from seeing each other anymore.
“Right. Silver Springs,” she confirms. “Monday night. Six o’clock.” She ends the call.
I flash her a smile. “Guess I’d better buy some cowboy boots.”
Nori gulps. “Jemma said no.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Nori
“Wait, what?”Cash’s smile disappears and his face contorts. “Why?”
I try to keep the quiver from my chin, but my insides are flat-out tumultuous. “First of all, Jemma’s not mad at us.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. Five minutes ago, her anger was my biggest fear. But I didn’t count on something worse.
“She said the exposure from our video has been off-the-charts in just twelve hours. So the whole Spring Into Love team is excited about the … unexpected pivot.” I shift my focus to the phone in my lap. “They’re actually grateful. Jemma wanted me to thank you.”
“So I heard.” His voice is gruff. “If we’re getting such great traction, why don’t they want you to go out with me again?”
I lift my gaze again. “Because you’re not a Swipe Rite single.”
“I offered to join.” His frown deepens. “I heard you tell Jemma I’d make a profile.”
“Yes, but you weren’t on Swipe Rite when I met you.”
