Page 2 of Hating On Riot
“Blind?”
“It’s like a blind date, but through a direct messaging app. I set rules that everyone must follow. It’s an honor system. That’s why I picked the most honorable people.”
“Remind me again what class this is for?”
“Social Media Studies.”
Makes sense.
“How would you know I’m honorable? We don’t hang out.”
“I can’t troll you on social media because you don’t have any, so I asked around. The consensus is that you play by the rules no matter what.”
My friends would never spill the beans, even under the threat of torture. To them, torture would mean binge-watching all the Lord of the Rings movies with me.
“You spoke with Emily, didn’t you?” We went to high school together, and she is Hope’s best friend.
She hands me an envelope. “What’s the harm in having fun and feeling a connection? Or are you afraid Bella will steal this guy from under your nose too?”
It wasn’t just a guy Bella stole from me. It was my best guy friend. Emily must’ve told Hope that part too. I take the envelope and toss it into the back seat.
Every year, she gives me an invite to her birthday party. No e-vite from this girl. She goes full board with creating her own cards from scratch.
Hope surprises me by pulling me into a hug.
“I’m sorry for bringing up the past, but I understand what it’s like to be passed over for someone prettier. Not that you’re not pretty, or that Bella is prettier. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Arie, your kind of beauty is understated and genuine.”
“Are you hitting on me?” I untangle myself from her grip and put her at arm’s length. “You know I’m into guys, right? Me kissing Gwen,” one of my BFFs, “was because I lost a dare.”
“I know.” Hope tucks her hair behind her ears. “This is our last year. Make it memorable. Give my experiment a chance. It’s more about a meaningful connection than a love match. Falling in love is a bonus.” She shrugs.
Falling in love is out of the question while I’m still in love with a guy from my teens. I mull over Hope’s words. Making a meaningful connection isn’t a bad idea. I do miss Cooper’s friendship. We did everything together. He understands me in a way my girl best friends don’t.
I concede. “I hope your major has something to do with sales. You would make a killing on commissions with your power of persuasion.”
She laughs. “Does that mean you’re in?”
“Not a love match but a connection?” What if this guy catches feelings for me? With Cooper, there was never any chance of that. Like me, he’s hung up on someone, but he won’t tell me who it is.
“That’s up to you. Everyone has to follow the same rules.”
“What are they?”
“DMs only through the app. No in-person meetings. Emojis and GIFs are allowed. No boob shots. No dick pics. Keep the game between us. I’ll send you the app link along with your username and your match’s.”
“This match of mine—”
“You’ll like him, Arie.”
“What are you, my fairy godmother?”
“Nope. I don’t believe in fairy tales. What I do believe in is karma, and you know what they say about karma.”
“That it comes back and bites you in the ass?”
“No, silly.” She opens the car door. “Karma is a bitch.”
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