“What?” I cocked my hip to the side. “You were so sure I’d give in?”
“I know you,” Harper said. “And I know what it’s like to be in your shoes. So, yeah, I was pretty sure you’d decide to try my advice. I mean, Idoknow what I’m talking about.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder, her wedding ring sparkling in the sunlight. We both laughed.
I sat down in my chair and fired up my computer. I loved our studio. It was so light and open, and other than being at home with River, it was my happy place.
She walked around to my side and took a seat next to me. “Before we start, I have a confession.”
“What’s that?” I asked as I created an account on LoveBirds.
“I sort of heard about the site from Pops.” She squeezed her eyes shut as if bracing for my reaction.
“Really? Why was your dad looking at a dating website?” He’d been happily married for decades. Everyone loved Doc Allen and his wife, Linda.
“No.” She laughed. “He read about it onThe Vine.”
“Wow.” I shook my head. “I think that might be even more disturbing.” I was trying to imagine Harper’s gregarious father reading the region’s popular gossip blog. Trying and failing.
“I know. He and Jo are obsessed with it.”
I opened a new browser and started typing. I still couldn’t believe Harper’s dad readThe Vine.Her sister-in-law, Jo? Sure. But Doc Allen?
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I want to know whatThe Vinehas to say about LoveBirds.”
I clicked the page, and it opened to the gossip blog. I’d only visited it a few times, though I tried to avoid it. A large banner with an image of a grapevine and the blog site name filled most of the screen. I scrolled down, trying to ignore the latest posts as I navigated toward a search bar.
I typed in the name of the dating app and then clicked on the result. It was dated a few months back.
Move over Match.com, Alondra Valley’s got a new dating app. LoveBirds seeks to match singles who are looking to mingle. Booty-callers beware, this app is for serious love birds only. If you’re looking for true love, this is the app for you.
I groaned. “This sounds so cheesy.”
“It’s just the way she writes the blog.”
“No.” I shook my head and leaned back in my chair. “I meant the dating app sounds cheesy.”
“Keep scrolling. Let’s see what else it says.”
“Fine.” I did as Harper asked.
The rest was mostly a review about the app and how user-friendly it was. As well as touting the amazing selection of candidates. It wasn’t labeled as a sponsored post, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if it was, considering how much she was gushing about the app.
Finally, she ended the post with:
The app is currently in beta testing and free to use. It’s open to all genders and orientations. One of my favorite things about it is the inclusivity and options it offers potential matches.
Will I see you on there, AVers?
<3 V
I frowned. “‘Avers’?What the heck are those?”
“Alondra Valley—ers.” Harper laughed. “It’s how she signs off all her blog posts.”
I closed the window. “Wow. Okay.”
“Right.” Harper clapped her hands together. “Okay, so…let’s start with the easy stuff,” she said. “Name, age, occupation, location.”
