5

“That’s a relief,” David said.

Brennon shook his head. “They should be working. Shit, I’ve been writing code for them all morning.”

Although there were several new matches and messages, the most important one was from Love, so that was the one I opened.

SaarasLove: Hiii! I’m back, whoop!

Me: Did you have a good time at home?

SaarasLove: Home was . . . home. This trip was sad. Emotionally draining. I’m much happier to be back in the city.

Me: Sounds like you should have just stayed here and gone out on a date with me.

SaarasLove: Normally, I’d totally agree, but this trip was unfortunately very necessary.

SaarasLove: I recently lost a close family member—nothing we need to talk about, I’m just putting it out into the universe, so you get where my head is at.

Me: I won’t make you talk about it, but I do want to cheer you up.

SaarasLove: Tell me something funny, then.

I glanced around the living room and kitchen, trying to think of something, and then the obvious hit me.

Me: I had a dream about you last night. A pretty detailed one that involved us naked. Your face wasn’t really shown that much, just your incredible body that I saw in the bikini shot you sent. I woke up and went straight into the living room. The guys called me out—let’s just say, I had to adjust myself, the view in my pants wasn’t exactly appropriate.

SaarasLove: Oh my God!

Me: Yeah . . . I’ve clearly got you on my mind, Love. Looks like I already can’t get enough of you.

SaarasLove: Mr. Boston, stop flattering me.

I wedged my coffee out from in between my thighs and took a drink.

The tempo of the guys’ typing was a constant tap, like the beak of a woodpecker against a tree, and it hadn’t lightened up at all. If anything, their speed had increased.

“Have you guys joined the app?” I asked.

That question seemed to garner their attention, both pausing to look up at the same time.

“Joined the app?” Brennon huffed, his eyes red and hazy in the middle of long lashes. “Who the hell has time to date? Don’t tell me you do?”

Instead of answering, I addressed his partner. “How about you, David?”

David shook his head, several pieces of hair falling out of the elastic. “I’m on a wicked dry streak. Haven’t brought a girl home in, what, a couple months, I think.” He rubbed his cheek against his shoulder, unbalancing his glasses, which he didn’t fix.

“That’s why you need to join,” I told him. “You could be on a date by tonight.”

“Except tonight I have class,” David told me. “And I’ve got to figure out a way to make rent, so that means I might have to pick up some freelance in between homework and coding for Hooked.” He tucked the loose strands behind his ear. “Think I can fit a date in there somewhere?” He laughed.

For the three of us founders, our stress wasn’t any different. Our class load was identical to theirs. Where they had pressure to ensure the app was working properly, ours was to make sure new users continued to sign up, maintain our social media accounts, and plan a massive kickoff party, attempting to spread the word not just in Boston but all over the country.

“I get it, man. This is a lot to take on in addition to everything else.” I finished off another piece of bacon. “You know we’re feeling it too.”

“Except when this becomes the top dating app in the country, David and I are going to be floating in dinghies. The three of you partners will be in yachts.”

I finished the rest of the coffee, setting the napkin of bacon on the couch. “Don’t say that—you know we’ll take care of you guys. Besides, if that day ever happens, we’ll be buying all of us yachts.” I checked the time on my phone, seeing I had less than an hour before I had to head to class, and there was a new message from Love waiting in my notifications.

“I know that,” David said, his hands already back on his keyboard. “I’m not worried.”

I finished the last few pieces of bacon and went into the kitchen, yawning as I set the empty mug in the sink. “I’m going to hop in the shower and get ready for class. You guys make yourselves at home.”