Chapter 10
EDEN
I can barely keepmy eyes open as I sit in this lecture hall, listening to my instructor drone on and on about the importance of database security.
“It’s crucial in this day and age that you prioritize…”
My eyes flutter and I swear, for a split second, I fall asleep. Ugh. I knew taking a three-hour night class was a bad idea.
I dig in my backpack for that super spicy cinnamon gum I always carry with me when I need to stay awake and it’s too late for coffee. When I think about the fact that I’ve got two more months of this course, I have to hold in a groan. Sure, not every class in my computer science course is going to be a blast. But did it always feel like pulling teeth to sit through class? I’m genuinely interested in programming…but over the last couple of months, I’ve felt less and less engaged when I come to class.
Probably because I’m so busy with Dream Guy. It’s funny, as stressful and time-consuming as developing the Dream Guy app has been, it’s never once felt as tedious as class has lately.
Maybe that’s because Dream Guy is something I’m passionate about, that I truly love doing… And maybe because college isn’t something I wanted to do until my parents made it clear it was the only way they’d accept me.
I tuck that thought in the back of my mind. I’ll deal with that later.
As I quietly rummage through my bag for that cinnamon gum, I notice my phone blinking with a new text message.
Danny: Hey! Two things: the date with Ava went great. And have you checked the app? You need to. Now.
I pull up the site on my phone. My eyes go wide.
“Whoa…” I say, before catching myself.
“Ms. Shaw, was there something you wanted to share with the rest of us?” Professor Barnes asks.
“Um, no. Sorry.”
He shakes his head before returning to his lecture.
I make a conscious effort to clamp my mouth shut as I attempt to process what I’m seeing. Dream Guy just got one hundred new users in the last hour.
I quickly and quietly text Danny back.
Me: Holy shit!!
Me: 100 new users!! In one hour!! Danny, what kind of magic did you do on Ava??
Danny: Haha no magic, I just told off her ex. I guess she liked it.
Danny: Did you see her Instagram stories?
I quickly look and see that she re-Grammed one of Dream Guy’s recent posts. And her most recent post is a screenshot of the Dream Guy logo.
Hey, beauties! Have you heard of Dream Guy? It’s this cool new dating app with a twist: you can use it for real dates or fake dates. A good friend of mine used it recently and raved about it!
I know what you’re thinking, why would anyone want to fake date? But trust me, this is the perfect app for you if you’re sick of going on bad dates with lackluster men.
With Dream Guy, you can choose a hot, smart, cultured guy—your actual dream guy!—to go on dates with.
And it doesn’t have to be romantic either! Do you need a date for an important work event? Dream Guy is the perfect solution.
All the Dream Guys on the app are experts in their field so you know you can bring them along to any social setting and they can hold their own.
Or do you have some family function coming up and you’re sick of enduring annoying questions from everyone whenever you show up single? Hire a Dream Guy!
#dreamguy #theperfectdate #moderndating #datingapp
I swallow back a squeal. I’m shaking, I’m so excited about this boost we just got from Ava. But then reality sinks in. There’s no way Danny, Ian, and Jamie can be our only Dream Guys anymore.
Me: Are you busy? Can you meet me at my place for an emergency Dream Guy staff meeting?
Danny: On my way now.
I text Ian and Jamie too. Then I pack up my stuff, ignoring the “Shh” noises and annoyed glares I get from everyone around me, including Professor Barnes.
Once I’m out of the lecture hall, I call Kayla.
“Hey! You’re home, right?”
“Yup. About to rewatch season one of Love Is Blind. Season two and three sucked so much that I need to cleanse my palate with the lovey-dovey-ness of the first one.”
“Can you hold off? Danny’s coming over for an impromptu meeting for Dream Guy.”
“Sure. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s just…You’re not gonna believe what just happened.”