Page 3 of Dad Bod Book Boyfriend for Christmas

Riley

I see Jake’s profile pop up on my screen, and my heart skips a beat. We matched instantly. For a second, I stare, frozen in place, trying to process that this is happening. It takes me a whole minute to fully absorb it, my thumb hovering over the screen as I try to remember how to breathe.

Quickly, I shove my phone into my pocket and try to compose myself as Christy reappears in the living room with a bottle of wine and two glasses. Her face is bright with excitement, and she’s oblivious that her brother just turned my world upside down.

“No matches yet?” she asks, plopping beside me on the couch, her eyes scanning my face with that usual Christy curiosity.

I muster what I hope is a casual smile, trying not to look as flustered as I feel. “No. Nope. None. Nothing yet,” I reply, the words tumbling out nervously. I add a big, bright smile for good measure, praying it’ll throw her off the scent, though my pulse is pounding so loud I half expect her to hear it.

Christy frowns slightly, a hint of suspicion flickering across her face, but she doesn’t press further. Instead, she pours us each a generous glass of wine, settling in to continue our night of girl talk andGilmore Girlsreruns.

As the episodes play, I nod and laugh along, trying to keep up with Lorelai and Rory’s antics, but my mind is a million miles away. All I can think about is Jake—his profile, that instant match, and what it could mean. A pang of guilt washes over mefor wishing Christy would head to bed, but I’ve had a crush on Jake for as long as I can remember. Knowing we matched has my thoughts spiraling through endless what-ifs, the idea of him sitting on the other side of his screen, maybe thinking about me too.

Finally, Christy stretches and yawns, saying her goodnights as she heads to the spare bedroom. I wait a few minutes, chewing my lip, listening for any hint that she might still be awake. When all is silent, I pluck my phone from my pocket, my hands trembling as I unlock the screen. The faint glow lights up my face, and I stare at Jake’s profile, my stomach flipping with excitement and nerves.

My heart is practically galloping, my palms a little sweaty as I weigh my next move. Is this a terrible idea? I know how much my friendship with Christy means to me, and the thought of risking that feels heavy. I wonder what she’d say if she knew how long I’ve been drawn to Jake, how much I’ve dreamed of something like this, even if it seemed impossible.

But even with all my doubts, I know what I’m going to do. My fingers hover over the screen, and before I can overthink it, I start typing.

Hey. Didn’t expect to see you here.I hit send, my heart pounding as I wait, tapping my fingernails anxiously against my phone.

Almost instantly, a reply pops up.

Jake:Oddly enough, I thought the same about you.

I stare at the words, analyzing them over and over, trying to gauge the tone. Is he annoyed? Amused? It’s hard to tell through a text message, and my stomach twists with uncertainty. Was he expecting to see me here—or hoping not to?

Taking a shaky breath, I open my profile and cringe. Of course, Christy set me up with the photo from tonight—me in my oversized, fluffy bathrobe, shoveling a spoonful of triple chocolate ice cream into my mouth, eyes crossed for comedic effect. It’s hardly the most glamorous picture, and I groan, wondering what Jake must think.

I quickly type out a response.Christy set this profile up for me,I explain, hoping he understands that this wasn’t exactly my idea.What’s your excuse?I add, trying to inject a bit of humor to lighten the mood.

A few seconds pass, and his reply appears.

Jake:Just ready for what Carter has.

I read his words, my heart stopping as the weight of their meaning sinks in. Carter and Shelli’s love is undeniable. They have that rare, once-in-a-lifetime connection that makes everyone around them believe in happy endings. It’s clear to anyone who sees them that what they have is real—forever, honest-to-goodness love.

Is Jake saying he wants forever?

My breath catches, and a rush of warmth spreads through me as I picture what that might mean. He isn’t looking for something casual, something fleeting. He’s looking for real love, the kind that lasts, the kind that changes everything. And suddenly, all my fears and uncertainties seem a little smaller, replaced by a quiet hope.

Maybe I could be the person he’s been searching for.

Jake

I’m breathing heavily, my heart pounding like a drumbeat that won’t settle. Blood pumps through my veins at an intensity I haven’t felt in years as I wait for Riley’s response, caught between anticipation and dread. Maybe I was too honest. I practically spelled out what I wanted—something real, something lasting. Have I scared her off?

Then there’s the fact that this whole thing was Christy’s idea. Knowing my sister, it was a whirlwind plan that didn’t give Riley any time to think it through. Does that mean she isn’t ready to meet anyone? Was she even expecting to match with someone? My mind spirals, and I can’t shake the image of her profile picture: Riley, sitting on her couch in that big fluffy bathrobe, eyes crossed in playful concentration as she spooned ice cream into her mouth. It’s adorable, of course, but part of me wonders if Christy set her up just to mess with her. Who uses a photo like that for a dating app?

Suddenly, my phone buzzes, snapping me out of my thoughts. Her name appears on the screen, and I hold my breath as I open the message.

Riley:So, what happens next?

A surge of hope crashes over me, and I think quickly. My fingers fly over the screen, typing before I can overthink it or second-guess what I’m about to say. I’m not willing to risk letting this moment slip away or give her a chance to realize she might be making a mistake—if she hasn’t already.

I take you out on a date.The words appear on the screen faster than I’ve ever typed before. I barely have time to double-check for typos, but I press send anyway, experiencing a rush of adrenaline.How about the Christmas Market?I add, picturing the sprawling market, the biggest of the year, with rows of festive stalls under twinkling lights. There will be so many people there that it’s unlikely we’ll bump into anyone we know. Then again, with how popular it is, we could bump intoeveryonewe know.

A pause. The seconds stretch on, and a familiar pang of doubt creeps in.

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