Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Dallas frowned, covering her baby’s ears. “You matched with this dickwad?”
“That’s not the point.” His shoulders shook, the rage barely contained. “Don’t play dumb.”
I yawned. “Must not be memorable.”
“You’re not hot shit. I only swiped right because you listed Baylor as your alma mater. And you know how you repaid me?”
“I’d love to know.”
And while you’re at it, do you happen to know why I was on an overpriced dating app, why we matched in West Hollywood, and where the hell my fiancé fits in this?
“I DM’d you my Insta handle, and you created a group chat with my fiancée, where you photo-dumped pics of your coworkers, told her they’d come up with better pick-up lines than me, and helped her set up a blind date with one of them.”
Fae whistled. “Epic.”
“You are the coolest.” Dallas sighed, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “If I weren’t so traumatized by the third-degree tear in my vagina from Luca, I’d be pregnant just from hearing that.”
Hettie clapped. “You have major balls.”
In fact, I did.
Something I suddenly remembered developing after dumping my parents.
For my entire childhood, I’d played it safe, doing my best not to embarrass Jason and Philomena Auer. But in college, I’d grown a spine. I vowed to never let anyone step on me again.
Hazel and I would storm down these steps like we owned every inch of campus. Boys fawned over us everywhere we went, passing us their numbers at football games, lectures, and tailgates. We hopped from party to party, where Hazel taught me to let loose and enjoy life.
And all the while, I never spoke to Oliver von Bismarck.
Fae tossed her hair over her shoulder, managing to stare down her nose at him despite their three-inch height difference. “Why are you still here?”
With that, she locked her arm around my elbow and led the four of us away from my gaping Raya date.
Hettie pulled up the map on her phone. “Do you remember which dorm you stayed in?”
“Penland Hall.” I pointed down the path, just past a fleet of tennis courts. “It’s this way.”
We walked the rest of the way like a human chain, linked together at the elbows. Facing my past on my own terrified me, but I was blessed to be doing this with such good friends.
“I think this is as far as we can go before they kick us out.” Farrow stopped in front of the low steps leading to the main door. “We don’t have keycards.”
“Keycards?” Dallas’s brows knitted together, dripping with outrage. “We’ve got charm. We don’t need keycards.”
Sure enough, a flirt at the front desk later, we headed to my old dorm room. My heart somersaulted, ready to plunge out of my chest.
Crashing weddings at Miller Chapel.
Trying and failing to kayak at the marina.
Bowling at the student center.
The memories flooded back to me at an alarming speed. I kept my eyes trained onto the squeaky floors, determined to fight the headache.
We rounded the corridor toward my old room.
I ran into Fae’s back.
Dallas released a gasp. Farrow grunted. Hettie womp, womp, womped.
“What’s he doing here?” Fae hissed, annoyed.
My head shot up. I followed their line of sight, right to the man standing outside the door of my old dorm room.
My fiancé – looking fifty shades of pissed off.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Oliver
Romeo Costa sent an attachment.
Romeo Costa: Luca wearing his first cowboy hat.
Zach Sun: Holy shit, that is a cute baby that does not at all look like a potato with a diaper and an attitude.
Zach Sun: (Am I doing this right?)
Ollie vB: Uncanny. You sound like a completely authentic human. Is that a new ChatGPT update you’re testing?
Zach Sun: Yes.
Ollie vB: It’s not working.
Romeo Costa: I concur. Straight to the dumpster fire.
Ollie vB: @RomeoCosta, I didn’t know you guys were in Texas.
Romeo Costa: We aren’t. Dallas and Farrow took Briar to check out her old college.
Ollie vB: ???
Romeo Costa: They’re trying to see if walking around Baylor will bring back memories.
Ollie vB: But I was just on the phone with Briar. She was eating beignets.
Romeo Costa: In New Orleans.
Ollie vB: NEW ORLEANS.
Romeo Costa: Just a quick stop before Waco. Dallas insisted it would be a waste of gas not to.
Zach Sun: Did they not tell you?
Ollie vB: NO.
Zach Sun: Oh, that’s awkward. I apologize for the inconvenience. Can the State of Texas help you with anything else or may the Court adjourn for recess?
Romeo Costa: The OpenAI needs some major tweaks, @ZachSun.
Ollie vB: @RomeoCosta, tell your wife to answer my calls before I burn down your fucking fridge.
Romeo Costa: It’s all fun and games until you threaten Shortbread’s snacks.
Ollie vB: She has my fiancée with her.
Romeo Costa: Your FAKE fiancée.
Zach Sun: The feelings must be real.
Romeo Costa: Is this the AI chat or you speaking?
Zach Sun: Me, but a blindfolded can opener could detect the feelings. Ollie wears his heart on his sleeve.