Page 71 of Texting My Valentine

This started as a casual walk on the beach, with jokes of dick pics and keep-it-casual promises, and now I’m pretending to be his nephew’s mother as security watches over us, making sure a criminal doesn’t take his sick obsession further.

How did life get so messy so fast?

Tori:I meant what I said on the beach.When you kissed and touched me, when we’re together, it feels like fate. A past version of me is seriously annoyed with myself for saying this. I’m supposed to be able to keep my distance. But ever since we met, I feel different.

Alex:You feel like you’ve been shot with a Cupid’s arrow. I know how that sounds. I’m almost forty. Do you think I said, texted, or even thought things like this before you came along? Hell to the no, but it’s the truth.

Tori:We’re both as crazy as each other, then.

Alex:If wanting you makes me crazy, send me straight to the asylum.

I smile, looking across at him. His eyes seem to sparkle in the hospital’s bright lights, alive with meaning and emotion.

Soon, it’s time for Elliot to be seen. I’m touched when he says he wants me to join them.

Later, past midnight, Cleo, Lily, and I are on what we sometimes call a ‘slumber party’ group call. We used to have sleepovers all the time when we were kids, but less so now.

I lie in bed, my body still aching from the beach even though it’s been several hours.

“You need to tell him how you feel,” Lily says.

“And how does she feel?” Cleo demands.

“Haven’t you been listening?” Lily replies with some sass of her own.

I’ve just finished giving them the lowdown on everything: the security, the date, the hospital visit.

“She cares about him,” Lily says. “Sorry, Tori. I don’t mean to refer to you in the third person. But you obviously care about him. And I know you’ll call it superstitious or whatever, but I think you were fated to meet that night.”

“Oh, jeez,” Cleo mutters.

“You’re going to hate me, Cleo,” I say. “But when we were on the beach together earlier, I actually started to think the same thing…”

“Not you, too,” Cleo says.

“I don’t know how to explain this feeling. It’s like I’ve been shot with a freaking Cupid’s arrow.”

“Oh. My. Gawd.” Cleo makes a puking sound. “Am I going to be the only maneater left in this entire city? What is happening?”

Lily and I laugh.

“But just because I’m having these crazy thoughts and feelings,” I say, “doesn’t mean I’m going to automatically follow them, you know? I still need to be careful.”

“Careful of what?” Lily says angrily. “Careful you don’t fall in love with a man you clearly already care about? Be careful you don’t get a cute little boy to care for in the process. Don’t you want a chance at being happy?”

“A chance,” Cleo says. “That’s it right there, Lils. There’s achanceshe’s happy, sure. There’s also a chance she should’ve listened to me and kept her head on straight.”

“Life or death,” Lily begins.

“Easy, Lils…” Cleo laughs.

But Lily isn’t playing. “Humor me, Tori. Life or death, if you had to bet on it, would you say that you’ve got a better chance of being happy with Alex or without him?”

I swallow. It’s a poignant question that cuts right to the heart of the issue.

“I think I’d saywithhim,” I murmur. “Ithink.”

“Well, there’s your answer… and your problem.”

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