Page 69 of A Lot to Unpack
‘I’ll be right back with that shirt,’ I say, terrible at taking compliments.
I head down in the lift, my brain buzzing, my smile so wide it hurts, thinking about what Jordan said and… Wait… oh, hang on a minute. Suddenly it all makes sense. They were calling me new girl – NewGirl, my name on WorkM8. It’s so, so obvious now. Jordan is MrLoveByte. The guy I’ve been chatting to all this time. How did I not see it before?
I mentally scroll through every conversation, every little clue I missed.
I grin, giddy, and not only because I figured it out – although honestly, now I’m starting to think maybe I would make a pretty good private investigator – but because it’s given me an idea.
I pull out my phone, fire up the WorkM8 app, and write a message.
NewGirl
I think you’re in New York…
It doesn’t take long.
MrLoveByte
I think you are too…
NewGirl
I think I know who you are…
MrLoveByte
I think I know who you are too…
God, this is fun.
NewGirl
Fancy a drink tonight? Hotel bar?
The reply pings back instantly.
MrLoveByte
I’m going to be working late but I’d love to. Shall we say 9pm?
NewGirl
Sounds good. Guess I’ll see you then.
MrLoveByte
Not if I see you first…
I actually squeal. In the street. Like an idiot. I shove my phone in my coat pocket and try to compose myself.
Oh, boy, it’s happening. I like him. I can’t hide it any more. I really, really like him. And I’m pretty sure he likes me too.
And we have another date tonight. Here’s hoping we finally get to seal the deal with that kiss. But how would we not, after I’ve played such a blinder?
27
By the time I get back to the office, my fingers are purple from the cold, and kind of numb.
Still, I’m clutching the bag with the crisp white shirt I bought for Jordan, to replace his lipstick-stained one. It must have happened just before our almost kiss, when I had my face pressed into his neck. Is it weird that I find it sort of sexy? Like, I don’t know, I’ve marked my territory or something. Somehow it feels different to when Ben would leave his beard hairs all over and I’d end up with them stuck to my foundation.
