Page 16 of Texting My Valentine

“That would be fate,” Lily says confidently. I must make a face because she asks, “What?”

“I know you have your beliefs, but I don’t think fate has anything to do with this.”

“The guy who saved you happens to be your secret Valentine? Come on, Tori…” Lily presses.

“There were like thirty people who joined the text-a-thon. Hardly lottery odds,” I grumble.

“He’s on his phone,” Cleo whisper-shouts.

A moment later, my phone vibrates.

“Fate,” Lily says, making a face at me.

Valentine Stranger:Let’s just say I’ve learned not to play games. That way, winning OR losing is out of the question.

Tori:Sometimes, stranger, you don’t have to take things so seriously. You can just go with the flow and be casual.

Valentine Stranger:Maybe I’m not interested in casual.

Tori:But you’re not interested in anything serious, either?

“There’s that smile again,” Cleo comments and then looks down at her phone. “My guy isveryinterested. I wonder if he’s hot. Silver fox is still on his phone, FYI.”

Valentine Stranger:Life is easier if you focus on what you can control. You can’t control love.

Tori:But you can control whether or not you have a good time.

“How’s it going?” Cleo asks.

“Okay… I think. I’m channeling my inner Cleo, pretending to be casual. Thankfully, it’s just texting. I don’t think I could keep up this game if we met in person.”

“Even if it was Mr Silver Fox? Any response? Because he put his phone down.”

“Nothing.”

Lily sings, “Faaate…”

I don’t answer Cleo’s first question. Thinking about the idea that my secret texter could be the silver fox has my belly doing flips. But I’m not going to let them see that.

“He’s picked up his phone.”

And, of course, I get a text.

Valentine Stranger:Give me your definition of fun when it comes to romance.

I imagine the silver fox saying this in his deep, commanding, rich voice, the same one he used when defending me against Damien. I don’t have an answer to his question – or is it more of a demand?

“Something wrong?” Lily asks.

“He just asked me to define my definition of fun when it comes to romance. Or challenged me to, I guess. What should I say?”

“Be honest,” Lily advises. “Speak from the heart.”

“Screw that,” Cleo says. “Say you want to keep this the most casual relationship ever. Tell him if he evenhintsat anything serious, you’ll leave a Tori-shaped hole in the wall.”

Her comment is lighthearted, but the reference to my ‘shape’ leaves me feeling annoyingly self-conscious for a moment. I beat the body-image demons away.

Tori:Taking it one step at a time.Not worrying about tomorrow or the implications. Living in the moment. Being happy. I guess that’s my definition.

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