Page 11 of Hate To Love You
That so? Not a big dating app guy?
TongueTiedInKnots
This is the first time I ever used one.
Hate2LoveU
Really??? Wow. And here I thought you couldn’t get any sexier.
Liam rolls his eyes, but can’t seem to stop blushing. He turns onto his stomach with his feet drawing figure eights in the air as he types away.
TongueTiedInKnots
So your type is an awkward science dork with a knack for mythology and exactly zero dating app swagger?
Hate2LoveU
Tell me you have braces and a stubborn cowlick you can’t tame and I’m in love.
Liam lets out a laugh, then covers his mouth—and his braces—and glances at his bedroom door. It’s a bit late, and the last thing he wants to do is attract the unwanted attention of his parents, who may or may not still be awake, and his wine-chugging mom is always on the hunt for something funny to entertain her.
For some reason, he can’t bring himself to tell the whole truth to Hate2LoveU. The vision Liam has of himself the day he finally meets the guy will be when his teeth are perfect and his braces long gone.
So he quickly types his reply:
TongueTiedInKnots
No braces, but definitely a cowlick.
For a moment, there’s no response, only the notification that the message was read.
Liam frowns as he waits, unsure what’s causing the hesitation.
Minutes later, he’s sitting on the edge of his bed, troubled, as he stares down at his phone. Not even the three dots appear.
Really? Is it that important that he has braces? Is this some kind of weirdo with a braces fetish? Well, maybe Liam doesn’thave any room to judge; he gets weak in the knees for any guy who can do a headstand. It’s weird, and maybe there’s some kind of association in Liam’s head he can’t place, but the second a guy turns upside-down, Liam’s heart flutters happily.
Maybe he should confess to the braces.
But then would that make him look like a liar?
Or charmingly insecure?
Liam has relocated to his desk, feet propped up on the edge of his bed, when the three dots finally appear, nearly startling him out of his seat when he lurches forward, blinking. Then:
Hate2LoveU
Hmm, OK. No braces. And where does one find a cowlick on a green fireball, I wonder?
Liam stares at the response in complete confusion—until he’s reminded that he chose the first thing he could find on his phone to use as a profile pic: a screenshot he took from some brainless, time-killing mobile game with green fireballs.
TongueTiedInKnots
I’m a bit more turquoise than green in real life, but yeah, I’m pretty much a fireball.
Liam gnaws on his lip uncertainly. Despite the little joke, he’s still mulling over the long pause after he said he had no braces. It’s very possible he’s just overthinking it. Maybe the guy had to set his phone down at that exact time to answer a knock at the door, or to wash his hands, or to take care of a terrifying owl that just flew in through his window and is wreaking havoc on his bedroom at this very moment.
Or maybe he really is having other conversations, too.
