Page 21 of Embrace

She frowns. “Won’t I be leading some dude on?”

“Hey, first dates are like job interviews. They ghost people all the time. Besides, we’re doing this for you—and I’ll even put your dating goals as fun, casual dates. No pressure.”

She lets me build her profile, nervously chewing on her pen beside me. I scroll through her photos until I hit one with her hair in loose waves, tattoos on display.

“You look great in this one,” I say. “I’ll put it as the first one.”

“Shouldn’t we go for something more…modest?”

“What do you mean?”

She starts to answer, then closes her mouth. “Guys are going to be looking at that. I’m not exactly sure they’ll put that in the ‘girlfriend’ category of their cavemen brains.”

I look at the picture again. To me, Scarlett looks like herself—pretty, expressive, kind…and, who am I kidding, hot as hell. That’s no secret. But I hadn’t thought about the fact that most guys would think of her as just the latter. Somehow that irritates me too.

“This isn’t about what they think. We’re doing this for you.”

As I’m swiping, I land on a picture of her with two braids, holding a book, beaming happily. She looks different in this one. Softer. I stare too long. For a second, I forget what I’m doing. I select it, then unselect, shaking my head.

“Why not that one?” she asks curiously.

I make a noise in my throat, unable to come up with an answer. The thought of some weirdo staring at that picture? No way.

When I finally tap the “start swiping” button, the screen floods with hearts. Match after match.

Scarlett’s expression tightens. “What is this supposed to do for my horrible reputation again?”

“You don’t have a horrible reputation. And being on the app shows you’re in a new phase. One-night stands were your thing, and now they’re not.”

She chews on the end of her pen until I take it from her.

“We don’t have to do this, Scarlett.”

She shakes her head. “N-no. I want to.”

“You’re sure? Because you can back out anytime. I won’t hold it against you. I’ll pay you for tutoring me, so it’s not a favor. And if you don’t want to tutor me, I’ll find another way.”

“I don’t want your money, Ishida.” She rolls her eyes. “I can do this.”

I swipe through her matches. “This guy looks decent.”

She leans in. “Twenty-three, five ten, studying at the University of Beerology, interests include partying and oh look! more partying. Are you sure he’s not for you?”

I bark out a laugh, earning a shush from someone studying nearby. “Nah, I like mine with tattoos and pretty eyes.”

Her eyes narrow. “Are you just describing yourself?”

“Can you blame me?”

She throws her pen at me. “That sweet Kian persona is only for show, huh? You’re just as full of yourself as every other hockey player.”

I press a hand to my chest. “You think I’m sweet?”

“Shut up, Kian.” She snatches the phone. Her shoulders tense more the longer she looks at the app.

“If you want, I’ll be right there with you,” I offer. “You won’t even notice me.”

“On my date? Ha! No way. This is already embarrassing enough.”