Want Me (Mess with Me 4)

“Well, how do I take it down? I don’t want every mouth breather in the DC area sending me dick picks! And I need a better picture.”

Switching to the camera app, I start taking selfies. It would have been nice to have some notice so I could have worn something more exciting than a white button down shirt and tweed skirt. It’s fine. Anything would be better than that busted photo.

The app makes a chiming sound.

Then another.

Ariana guffaws. “What is that I hear? Sounds like a good time!”

Then she hangs up.

I click the red flags popping up at the bottom of the app. My eyes bug out. Five matches. Five people actually liked that crappy profile? My head drops into my hands. This whole thing is a little overwhelming. For the last few years, I’ve heard from friends nothing but horror stories about dating apps.

A notification pops up on my computer for my next meeting. I close the app and put my phone in my pocket. Now probably isn’t the best time to dive into the waters of lewd pickup lines and gross dick pics. I grab the tablet I use to take notes and head for conference room B. By the time I get there, Mya, Kevin, Val and Law are already waiting.

What is he doing here? He wasn’t scheduled to be in this meeting.

“Morning.” I make cursory eye contact with the others and then direct my attention to the screen at the front of the room.

“Okay everyone, let’s go over our initial data from the first batch of GlowUp beta testers.” Mya clicks to change the slide in her presentation and the image changes to a pie chart.

Movement across the table grabs my attention. Law holds up his phone and mouths something. Immediately, I turn back to the front. The slide has changed again to something with a bunch of percentages on it.

Law clears his throat. Loudly.

Mya stumbles over her words and glances at him in alarm before continuing. Once she’s not looking, I glare at him.

Stop, I mouth.

He holds up his phone again.

It’s a struggle to pay attention when I can see him moving but I deliberately keep my focus on the presentation. I can only hope that Mya doesn’t ask for my opinions on anything since I have no idea what’s going on.

Just then my phone starts chiming again. Everyone looks at me.

Crap.

“Sorry. I thought I put it on silent.” I take my phone out and click the volume button on the side furiously.

“That sounds like the GlowUp notification. Are you using the app?” Mya asks excitedly.

Acutely aware of the man sitting right across the table, I nod slightly.

“Excellent! What do you like about it so far? Have you experienced any of these issues?” She clicks back in her presentation and brings up the pie chart slide again.

The table jolts when Law stands suddenly. Mya watches mutely as he walks out. Kevin looks at me and then pointedly turns his attention to the table in front of him.

Right. Because that wasn’t obvious at all.

“Um, I haven’t noticed any issues.” I slide lower in my seat as Mya continues her presentation, desperately hoping she doesn’t ask me anything else.

As soon as we’re done, I grab my tablet and practically run toward my office. Down the hall, I see Law waiting outside the door. Turning to my left, I duck into the ladies bathroom. Hopefully he didn’t see me.

A second later, a text pops up on my phone.

JLAW: Now you’re hiding in the bathroom to avoid me?

My thumbs hover over the screen. Should I respond or pretend I don’t see this? Before I can answer, a new calendar notification pops up. Law has set up a meeting for us on his work calendar that is marked Urgent.