Page 33 of The Love Wager

Hallie:Same. But it’s SUNDAY. Why are you working on a Sunday?

Jack:Because I have work to do.

Hallie:Also please tell me you don’t wear those tiny little running shorts.

Jack:Stop tryna picture me and my luscious thighs, perv.

Hallie:Definitely not doing THAT.

Jack:Wait, were you asking for a pic? Was that what that was?

Hallie:Please don’t make me block you.

Jack:Have a lovely day, TB.

Hallie rolled out of bed and went for a run since she was already awake, and the entire time, she practiced what she was going to say to Ruthie when she returned later that day.I love living with you, but I really think it’s time for me to get my own place like an adult. We can still hang out all the time.

Only Ruthie never came home that day. She sent a text around ten a.m. that read,Having too much fun to come back to the States—will be back next week, and Hallie wasn’t reallysurprised to discover that her roommate was out of the country.

After showering post-run and going on a quick Starbucks jaunt, she settled into the couch and started scrolling. It took a while, but she found a guy whose profile looked good enough to swipe and began messaging.

He seemed funny and nice, so when he asked if she wanted to meet up for dinner and drinks on Wednesday after work, she called Jack.

He answered after one ring, but she wondered if he was working, because he said, “This is Jack.”

“Hey, it’s Hallie. What’s up?”

She heard the smile in his voice when he said, “I cannot believe you called me instead of texting, boomer.”

“Do you have a sec?”

“Of course,” he said, and she wondered if he was home or at the office.

“Are you still working?” she asked.

“Yeah, but I’m cutting out soon.”

“Okay, well, I just had a guy ask me out on the app. Do you have any potential dates that you can do Wednesday night at six thirty-ish?”

“Who’s the guy?”

“His name is Stephen, he doesn’t hunt or fish, and he is a dentist. He’s into running, bingeing Netflix, and getting railed.”

“Whoa, dentist? That’s a date with bonus points.”

“Right? Although I’ll probably be worried the whole time that he’s checking out my plaque situation.”

“ ‘Plaques and racks’—I bet that’s Stephen’s motto.”

“You’re a pig.”

“Chill. It’s Stephen’s motto, not mine.”

Hallie said through her laugh, “So do you have any potential dates you can do Wednesday?”

“I actually have two.”

“Shut your stupid mouth!” Hallie yelled into the phone. “Since last night, you have chatted up two girls with enough of a potential connection to facilitate a date?”

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