Page 52 of Playing Flirty

“He is very memorable, Rosie, reminds me of your father.”

“Gandalf from that time at Comic-Con, Mom.”

“Oh, yes. Well, I remember helping you search the parking lot after you lost his phone number.”

“I searched everywhere,” I said, thinking back to the heartache that had followed. Gandalf had written his number on a scrap of paper since my phone’s battery had run out. “Sometimes it feels like I imagined him.”

“You still haven’t found him?”

“No,” I replied. “How would I?”

“You kids are innovative. Remember how social media connected those two girls who were best friends as kids?”

“I’m not going to do that, Mom. Don’t be weird.” A laugh escaped me.

“Weird? You’re the one thinking about him all these years later.” She threw up her hands and grinned.

I shrugged. “Been thinking about him a lot recently, working on Overpower and all.”

“You spoke about him nonstop for at least two or three months after that. I worried you might never stop.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever, Mom.”

She paused and then narrowed her eyes, studying me. “So, has Patrick contacted you yet?”

My chest tightened at the mere idea of it. “No, why are you asking?”

“He’s going to contact you. That’s all I can say, baby.”

“Mom, why is he going to contact me? Why do you know this?” Panic raced through my veins.

“Oh, don’t worry, but I have been sworn to secrecy.” Her eyebrows bounced, nearly touching her hairline before she glanced sideways. “Anyway, gotta run. It’s boarding time, and I’d like to use the loo before the flight. I have a runny tummy. Dad told me not to eat the leftovers, but you know I don’t like wasting. Anyhoo, love you forever and wherever.”

“There are no secrets between us!” I yelled.

I was too late—the call ended.

Frantically, I checked all my social media accounts and emails, but there was nothing from Patrick.Could she be mistaken?

I considered texting him, but the idea of doing that filled me with so much dread I had to take one of my mother’s emergency Calm Down pills.

This was an emergency. I couldn’t think about Patrick. I had too much going on. Patrick and all my work drama would have to go into a little box to be dealt with later.

Or never.

Never was fine too.

The submission process for the game was simple. Enter your personal details and give them two or three sentences about yourself. Upload the game rules, game overview, approximate game length, and photos of the game.

But simple did not equal quick or easy. At least not for me. Not with how much this meant to me. Plus, my mind was hung up on my mother’s comment about Patrick, and the rest of me was hung up on William.

After spending forever typing and retyping three sentences about myself, I texted William.

Rose:Describe me in three sentences.

William:Short. Dorky. Sexy.

Rose:Not three words, you menace. It’s for the game submission.

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