Page 1 of The Valentine's Bet

Chapter One

Amy

Alone ... the day after Christmas.

I stare out the tiny window of my New York City apartment overlooking Central Park. Moving to the Big Apple is a dream come true—I should feel grateful.

And I do.

Mostly.

But the fact that I booked my flight the morning after Christmas has me questioning my life decisions. Because I don’t start my new marketing job until Monday, and I have zero friends here in New York. While the whole world is abuzz with the lingering holiday vibes, I’m stuck in my apartment.

Alone.

Mom was right, I should’ve just stayed in Chicago another day.

I flop back on my bed—which is right in the middle of the living room, kitchen, and dining area. I’m realizing now that I didn’t appreciate the two-bedroom apartment I had back in Chicago nearly enough.

“At least the bathroom is private,” I mumble to myself, staring up at the light overhead. “Ugh.” I groan and roll over, reaching for my phone. While I’m not usually one to wallow in self-pity, I know that if I call my mom, she’ll just remind me of what I already know—that I didn’t haveto come back so early—and I’m not really in the mood for that. I only moved into this apartment a week before Christmas. I wanted time to get settled in ... or so I thought.

I scroll through my contacts until I land on Eliza’s name.

My best friend will listen to me.

She always does.

I put the phone to my ear, hoping she’s not too busy with her new husband.

“Hey you,” she greets me, her tone as bright as the Christmas lights still dangling on the little Christmas tree I set up in the corner before I flew home. “How’s New York?”

“It’s, um—” I pause, running my tongue along my lip. “Lonely.”

“Aww, I’m sorry. I’m sure it’ll get better once you get settled and make friends.” She’s always encouraging, but the laughter I hear in the background sends a pang of jealousy through my body. “I can definitely relate to how you’re feeling, though,” she adds. “When I first moved from Chicago to West Falls, I didn’t know a soul apart from Granny.”

“But then you met Nick thedayyou moved there.” I sigh.

“Yeah, but only because he had to rescue me after I fell through that decrepit wooden access ramp, which was pretty much the most embarrassing moment of my life.”

“And then you married him.” I chuckle, twirling some of my chocolate-colored hair between my fingers. “Ugh, you’resolucky. You have the cutest love story in the entire universe, and I’m sitting here alone at twenty-nine—having never evenkisseda guy.” I facepalm myself.

Eliza is pretty much the only person, other than my mom, who knows that I’mthatfreaking lame. And I don’t even really have a good reason for it. I’ve just beensofocused on building my career that, up until this point, I didn’t really make time for dating (or kissing). I guess, in the back of my mind, I always assumed it would just happen for me, that I’d stumble upon Mr. Right in a grocery store or the library or something.

But now that I’ve officiallymadeit—having landed my dream job as a marketing executive for a prestigious firm in the heart of Manhattan—I’m finally ready to start getting serious about finding someone to share my life with.

“You know, you’re in that hugecity now. You could very well have your first kiss by New Year’s Eve,” Eliza says. “You just have to get out there and be bold—we both know you can do that. You’re seriously the only person I’ve ever met whonevermeets a stranger. You’resobubbly and outgoing—I think you could probably have a conversation with awall.”

And I’ve had plenty, thanks.

“Brick is the best listener,” I quip.

She bursts into laughter. “See, you’re hilarious, Amy. There’s hope for you.”

I sigh, my eyes drifting to my closet. I completely revamped my wardrobe before moving here, trying to match the NYC look. It’s not all that different from Chicago, but it feels that way... And maybe, somehow, new clothes will attract a man.

“Amy, you’re gonna be just fine, and you’re going to find love. I knowit.” Eliza could be on one of those pep talk reels that play on my Instagram feed.

My gaze drops to the floor. “It’s just that ... well, I’ve kinda started to wonder if there’s something wrong with me.”

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