the hallway for what felt like forever before he turned to face his apartment just across the hall. His shoulders slumped as he headed inside. How the hell had Will wrecked this so fast? And how the hell was he going to fix it, assuming he could?
He pulled up the Meet Cute app and signed into his account, then he examined the hanky-panky challenges, looking over his options. This might be the last way to reach her since she didn’t know who had been sending her the romantic challenges. It was one last thing he could try. He chose the “Design your own hanky-panky challenge” and crafted it carefully and hit send. Now all he could do was wait and have faith.
Aubree was sitting by the fire in the Park and Field restaurant, a mug of warm apple cider in her hands as she stared off at the flickering vermilion flames. Despite the cozy warmth of the restaurant, she felt numb. Empty. Cold on the inside and out. A chasm had opened inside her chest and darkness was slowly spreading through her from that bleak fissure. She’d fallen in love with Matthew. Too fast. Too foolish.
Her phone pinged and she almost ignored it but finally curiosity got the better of her. She winced when she saw was a Meet Cute app notification. She clicked on it and saw Vesper1 had sent her another challenge. Whoever this Vesper1 was, he had sent her a string of fun adventures that had ended in heartbreak. Her finger hovered over the delete button before she finally tapped read.
Hanky-panky challenge: Love is friendship that has caught fire. If you still believe this… Give love a second chance. Give me a second chance.
She stared at the words. Give me a second chance? But ...
“Oh my God…” She murmured. She didn’t know Vesper1, he just sent her some messages for the challenges, that was it. But every challenge had led her to Matthew. She was torn between fury and confusion. Was Matthew the mysterious online user Vesper1? And if he was, why had Matthew used the app?
Aubree closed her eyes, remembering all the wonderful moments she’d had with him and how everything had been destroyed by one man’s stupid comments. Was she really going to walk away from Matthew without an explanation at least? She owed him that, but she also owed herself. She hit the accept button on the challenge and replied to Vesper1.
“Meet me at millennium Park in 20 minutes.”
She paid for her drink and hailed a cab. When she got to the park, it was filled with people and light. Snow flurries were falling from the skies in delicate swirling patterns making the night feel strangely intimate. She smiled as a couple of children in thick coats and brightly colored knit caps rushed past, shouting about building snowmen. Their beleaguered parents trudged behind them, carrying steamy cups of coffee. Ahead of her, the park was full of people enjoying snowy night and the skating ring in the distance was lit with sparkling white lights.
The closer she got to the rink, the more she could make out in the snow. A man stood with his back to her, his gloved hands braced on the walls of the rink. His dark blond hair was lightly dusted with snow, but she would recognize him anywhere.
“Vesper1?” She spoke the screen name and the man turned.
Matthew stood before her, pain in his hauntingly beautiful blue eyes.
“Aubree… Please let me explain and if you still never want to see me again, I understand.”
She nodded, keeping herself a few feet away from him. If she came any closer, she would be tempted to run into his arms, but she needed answers.
“That night you showed me the Meet Cute app, I decided to create an account. I liked you. More than liked you. That first night we met, I wanted to find a way to make you come back, but I was also worried you might not take me seriously. Most women in high-powered jobs don’t want to date a bartender. So, I used the app to find you and send you the challenge. I knew you could have gone anywhere to do them, but I hoped you would come to me. You did and as crazy as it sounds, I fell in love with you. After Lena, I never thought I’d fall in love so hard and fast again, but I did with you.” His lips curved in a soft, slightly