Page 15 of Blindly Yours

Next comes a list of facts about myself. Body type, height, exercise habits, favorite foods, proclivity toward cats or dogs, level of education, profession, and income bracket.

I narrate my entries to Junie as I step out of the cab at my parents’ building and smile at Gerald, the doorman, as I enter and cross the expanse of marble floors to the elevator. In the app, I move on to the next section, which asks me for my preferences in a match. Almost every factor I’ve filled in for myself is available for me to select and require in a match, including income.

“What should I put?” I lean against the brushed-gold elevator wall paneling, hovering my finger over the options.

“What’s the highest?”

I gasp as I read off the number.

Junie laughs. “I think your mom would actually approve of that.”

“Well, I’m not quite as superficial as my mother.” I tap my own income bracket. That seems fair. And then I scroll to the education section. “Should I require a bachelor’s degree, master’s… doctorate? I can’t believe this is a thing. I feel a little bad about it.”

“Well, you’re looking for a well-educated guy with his priorities straight and an income to make you feel secure. You shouldn’t feel bad about watching out for yourself.”

“Yeah, I suppose.” I decide to select the master’s degree option. I only spent four years at the University of Wisconsin myself, but I got enough flak from my mother about that, I don’t need her to criticize my future boyfriend too.

“Alright, I think that’s everything. Now we wait.” I switch off the speaker setting and lift my phone back up to my ear.

“The messages are gonna pour in. Just sit back and take your pick,” Junie says.

The doors open to reveal the penthouse entryway. “If it’s anything like Blindly, most of them will be creeps.”

There’s a pause before she speaks. “Are you still talking to Mr. No-Face?”

I frown as I pause near my parents’ door. “A little.”

“Do you knowanythingabout this guy?”

“He owns his own business.” I search through my purse for my key. “He won a tree felling competition.”

“What the heck is tree felling?”

“I don’t know, he climbed a tree or something.” I find the key and hold it in my hand with a pause.

“Sounds like the kind of guy your mom would approve of.” There’s heavy sarcasm laden in her voice.

I turn and slump my shoulder against the wall with a sigh. “When did you become my mom’s greatest advocate, Juniper?”

“Ok, ok. You don’t have to bust out my full name,” she shoots back. “I just don’t want you to get in too deep and then have your heart broken when you realize it won’t work.”

I close my eyes. “There’s nothing deep going on. I’ve talked to him twice. That’s all. And I figure you of all people should be encouraging me to defy my parents.”

“Because I defied mine?” she asks flatly.

“Yeah. Like a badass you did.” I open my eyes and nod, even though I know she can’t see me. “You’re stronger than anyone I know.”

“It’s not easy,” she says quietly. “To defy your parents.”

I exhale. “Well, hopefully I won’t have to.”

The door swings open and my mother peers out. “Oh! Rose, darling. I thought I heard you out here.”

“Gotta go, Junie,” I say into my phone.

“K, see you tomorrow.”

“Come in. Dinner’s almost ready.” My mother ushers me in. “Helene made Sole Meunière.”

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