Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 17220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
“Oh,” Catalogs—Sami—says. “I didn’t realize. I’ve never seen you with anyone.”
He shrugs and the moment turns monumentally more awkward when he says a quiet, “Yeah, well.”
Sami slinks away without ever acknowledging my presence, but who could blame her? Jude unlocks his mailbox while I sort through my two flyers for a tenth time. I wonder what he’s thinking, if he’s horrified I’ll mention what just happened or if he wants me to break the tension by cracking a joke. Cracking a joke is definitely what my brain is screaming at me to do.
Honestly your “no” was so nice, I almost want to ask you out, too, just to hear it again.
Some women collect purses, some collect rejection stories. You just gave her a good one.
You did great. Most guys would’ve faked getting a phone call to escape.
But that isn’t what I really want to say. I swallow past the thundering beast of a heart inside me, working up the nerve to tell him, “Hey, you just turned down a woman in front of me, because of me, and . . . ta-da! Here I am!”
Smiling, I turn to him, my mouth opening, and our eyes meet just as his phone rings. He holds up a finger, wincing in apology, and swipes to answer. I catch the name on the screen: Calliope.
Jude tucks the phone between his ear and shoulder, saying a soft, “Hey, sweetheart,” as he pulls the mail from his mailbox.
My stomach tilts, my skin flushes hot.
Hey, sweetheart.
Oh my God. Is this moment really happening?
During Valentine’s week to boot?
I can’t help but huff out a mortified laugh. We’ve exchanged only a handful of emails. I don’t really know Jude at all, and somehow I assumed with Sami just now that he meant he was in a relationship with me. Have I rushed into this romance like a kid cannonballing into a pool without checking whether there’s any water?
Jude was in Oregon for a wedding, yes, but was he also visiting the person he’s in a relationship with? Could that be why he hasn’t approved my Instagram request? Because he knows I’d see him in photos with someone?
I’ve let all this move so quickly, too quickly. Jude is just another tech bro chatting up a woman online. I’ve drunk Clara’s Hallmark Kool-Aid, thinking there was something wildly fated about us, when in reality fate doesn’t exist and romance is never as clean as two comets perfectly crossing paths in the sky.
The last time I dove into something with such gusto, such impulse, such optimism, it was taking a job at PitchSlapped, and look how that turned out for me.
Leaving Jude to his conversation, I chuck my flyers into the nearby trash can and head to the elevator.
February 10, 2026
iMessage
Jordan P.
Just ASK him, dumbass.
Clara C.
I agree, Ronnie.
I know you’re upset, but from the outside it seems crazy to not just ask him if he’s seeing anyone
Veronica C.
I already did! We literally already had the “I’m single” conversation.
Clara C.
Yeah, and I guess if he is seeing someone, he wouldn’t be up front about it anyway.
Veronica C.
Right? Well, whatever. I really should not have gotten involved with someone I’m professionally connected to.
Also he still hasn’t approved my Instagram friend request
Jordan P.
Omg stop it, are you thirteen?
You’re driving the clown car right now
Veronica C.
Sorry. I’m sure it’s frustrating to watch from the outside, but I just don’t want to get hurt
Clara C.
No, we’re sorry, sweetie.
Veronica C.
I’ll be fine.
Email correspondence between Veronica Cochran
Subject: Delivery of Marketing Deck
Date: February 11, 2026
Jude,
Attached you’ll find the revised slide deck with the team’s input incorporated. Let me know if you have any additional changes. I’m happy to make them.
-Veronica
February 11, 2026
iMessage
Jude T.
Hey, just got your email. Thanks for sending the slides!
We still good for Friday? I was thinking of Alinea at 7 and can pick you up.
Send me your address?
Veronica C.
Actually, I’m going to have to get a rain check, I’m sorry.
Jude T.
Oh, sure. No problem.
Is everything okay?
February 12, 2026
iMessage
Jude T.
Hey, I’m just checking in. I feel like the vibe took a nosedive. Did I do something wrong?
Veronica C.
No, sorry, I just started feeling a little overwhelmed with the idea of how fast this moved. I think I just need a little time.
Jude T.
I understand.
Let me know when/if you’re ever up for dinner, or even a cup of coffee.
Chapter Ten
Jude
I’m significantly more bummed about this Veronica thing than I should be, given that it’s only been going on a couple of weeks and I’ve never actually met her in person.
The thing is, we had a good energy. She made me laugh. She’s great at her job and clearly brilliant. Her honesty told me she could be a great communicator in a romantic relationship. I thought I had a sixth sense that we’d be good together.