Page 3 of Love Not Qualified

“Go on,” I instructed David, ignoring my friend.

Merielle slumped in defeat, clearly not pleased with the situation. I hadn’t said Iwouldget the app, I was just curious and engaging in a conversation with David.

“It’s called Unlock, and you get five matches a month. The more you talk with a person, the more things unlock,” he explained. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and he’s quick to clarify. “Like their name, their profile picture, their age, and hobbies. The only way a conversation ends is if one of you decides you’re not a match and closes the chat.”

I wasn’t going to lie, whoever thought of creating this app was kind of genius. You didn’t have to know many details about your match unless you earned it by enjoying each other’s company.

But still.

“Huh,” was all I said, propping my chin in my hand.

“Just try it, you can thank me later,” he said, then threw his arm around Merielle’s shoulders while she was still puffing at his suggestion.

TWO

HAELYN

“All right, talk to you tomorrow,” I said, kissing Merielle’s cold cheek when we walked out of the bar three hours later.

I thought it was freezing when I first got here, but it didn’t compare to the wind sneaking underneath my clothes now. I shivered, hugging myself tighter while my body tensed from the cold air.

Merielle looked at me from under her lashes, and I knew before she spoke that whatever she was going to say was going to be stupid.

“Why don’t you ask Eric to give you a ride? I’m sure he’ll be happy to.” She wiggled her brows, biting her bottom lip.

“I’m not even sure he has a driving license.” The thought suddenly hit me.

David opened the door to his car and stuffed my friend in, despite her heavy glare. He gave me a smile and shut the door in her face. “Are you sure you don’t want us to take you home? Or call you an Uber?”

He was a real gentleman to make sure I was getting home safe, but I was more than fine to walk back.

I nodded, glancing behind at the dark and empty path. “I’m sure. Good night.”

He rounded the car and got inside. My eyes swept over to Merielle, who made a circle out of two fingers, penetrating the hole with another.

My mouth opened, ready to criticize her last two brain cells, but I stopped short. Instead, I flipped her off and took off on the small street to my left. That way she wasn’t going to get any ideas about listing positions that I needed to do with Eric.

As much as I tried to explain I was over Josh—how could I care about someone who hurt me so much?—she still thought the only reason I wasn’t giving another man a chance was because of him.

That wasn’t true.

Whatever I had for Josh ended when I found out what he did. The good moments with him made me realize, even if too late, that I settled for so much less than I deserved. I couldn’t believe that I was grateful just to keep his bed warm for the night, simply because that’s how I felt cared for.

Not anymore.

I deserved to be loved, the real way. I deserved someone who laughed at my jokes even when they weren’t funny. I deserved someone who wanted me for the long term, not as a mere distraction.

How are you going to get that someone if you’re not even trying?

I looked up at the sky, as if God himself required an answer to the question from my inner voice. My feet came to a halt and I pressed my palms to my hips, an annoyed purse on my lips.

“Fine! I’ll download the goddamn app, but if you don’t deliver a hot, good man to my door, you’ll be the reason I’ll die alone,” I whispered, my finger pointed at the dark blanket above me.

I fished my phone out of my purse and opened the AppStore, slowly typing the app’s name.

U. N. L. O. C.K.

“You still have time to change your mind,” I murmured to myself, continuing on my path home.

---