Atlas and Erin (Montana Heartstrings #2)

1

❝乇𝕣ίŊ❞

My love life is like a ride on a rusty old roller coaster.

I’d been bingeing on mini chocolate croissants, Lay’s Magic Masala chips, and cup noodles. The extra two pounds I’ve gained didn’t make me feel any better. My hair had lost its shine, and the Red (Taylor’s Version) vinyl was stuck on repeat in my shared apartment, playing “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” on an endless loop.

“You need to find yourself a man.”

I blinked at my best friend Allegra, who was slowly weaving back and forth in her seat, trying to point at me. But her arm wavered so it was like she was pointing at everything she saw.

I think she might be drunk.

“You need to find yourself a man,” I told her, trying to hide the fact that I was offended by keeping a neutral expression on my face.

But yes. I’m totally offended.

We’re home on a Saturday night, drowning our sorrows in booze after our friend Tinashe’s bridal shower. Allegra and I were the only single ones left from our friend group. All the rest of them went home to their boyfriends. Fiancés. Side pieces. Whatever you want to call them.

No, wait.

None of our friends had side pieces.

That’s such a gross term, so I’m taking it back.

I know I would never be a man’s side piece. That implied I was not even worthy of being his main piece if you know what I mean.

Huh. Does that even make sense? I might be a little drunk too.

“I think I found one,” Allegra said, pulling me back to the here and now.

I frowned at her.

“You found what?”

“A man. Okay fine, I’ve found a couple, and we’ve started chatting” Allegra rolled her eyes and slapped her hand on the table, making the empty glasses rattle and I jumped a little in my seat. “Keep up, lady! There’s a new app that I’ve been trying out since last night, and I like it. A lot.”

“A dating app?” I wrinkled my nose.

That is not the way to find true love if you ask me.

Shouldn’t you meet your true love in person? Or have one of those cute accidental meetings?

Like oops, you picked up my coffee order by mistake! Let’s swap drinks—and phone numbers.

“Yes, a dating app. Don’t say it like it’s a dirty word. You should give it a try. I bet you’d find someone. In fact, I know you would” Allegra picked up my phone and started tapping away. Her brows furrowed in concentration. “How tall are you?”

“Um, five-four? Maybe five-five?”

Why is she asking me this?

“Brown hair. Blue eyes. Very curvy” Allegra’s fingers were flying as she typed. “Chemistry genius.”

“Not quite,” I said.

My elder sister Viola was the real Chemistry genius.

“Occupation?”

I nibbled on my lower lip.

“I do my best.”

“So unemployed.”