5 Cora #2
“Good idea. Rule number one: Cora can’t sabotage the dates,” Bianca said. “She has to at least give him a chance.”
“I promise to be my normal charming self.” Cora cupped her hands around her face, giving her best angelic look.
“That’s my fear,” Bianca mumbled.
Savannah gave Bianca a warning look. “Cora can’t sabotage the relationship, but, Bianca, you can’t do anything to unnaturally
prolong it.”
“What does that even mean?” Bianca asked, clearly offended anyone would suggest she’d do such a thing.
“You know, talking Cora’s date into trying again after he’s already decided to move on, or being his relationship counselor.”
“Or bribing him,” Cora added.
Bianca sucked in a breath and pressed her hand against her chest, looking shocked. “I would never dream of bribing anyone, because I know whoever SoulMatch matches you with will be perfect for you. Just like Zander’s perfect
for me. The program will speak for itself.”
“We’ll see, won’t we?” Cora was confident how this would end, and it wasn’t going to be a victory for Bianca or her AI matchmaker.
“And the bet runs until Chris and the girls get here,” Savannah added. “We’re not dragging this out all summer. If Cora’s
still happily with her guy after three weeks, we all agree there is merit to this SoulMatch thing, and, Bianca, we’ll help
you pack.”
“And Cora sings at my wedding. That’s what we said last night.” Bianca started singing the opening lines to a classic song.
“‘Going to the chapel and we’re...’”
Savannah held up a but wait finger. “But if she’s not, you agree that you will not move to Idaho at the end of the summer. And you won’t revisit the
move for at least six months.”
“What?” This time Bianca didn’t have to feign the shock.
“I just want you to give your relationship with Zander a little time. Make sure this is what you really want. If it’s the
real deal, a couple months won’t hurt anything.”
“Six is more than a couple.”
“It’s for your own good,” Cora added, because the only reason she was doing this was to protect Bianca.
Bianca was silent for a moment. “Fine,” she said eventually.
Cora thought everything was set and Savannah was going to officially declare the bet, but instead she turned to Cora.
“And you have to try to connect. Actually allow yourself to be open to letting someone in.” There was actual concern in her
voice. “It’s for your own good.”
“Fine. Of course. Whatever it takes.” A flash of nervousness zipped through her, but she washed it down with another sip of
Diet Dr Pepper. After all, she didn’t believe this AI thing was effective, so really there was no risk. She’d be fine.
Savannah shrugged. “In that case, I guess we need to add ‘Cora dating’ to the Summer Bucket List.”
“What is this bucket list you keep talking about?” Bianca asked.
“Another one of Savannah’s traditions,” Cora clarified.
“Another one of all our traditions. Hang on.” Savannah pushed herself out of the chair and disappeared into the house. When she came back, she
was holding a large piece of brown butcher paper. “See? Just like we always had.”
Bianca stared at the list. “I don’t remember anything that looked like that.”
“That’s because it didn’t look like that,” Cora said.
“I made a few upgrades.”
Cora agreed—if, by “few,” Savannah meant “a total overhaul.” The bucket list they’d had as kids had been a hodgepodge of hand writing on a white posterboard.
Anyone could add to it in the weeks leading up to summer, and it often included everything from ice cream at Miss Mary’s to movie night.
This version had been done on butcher paper, with fancy writing and colorful sketches to illustrate each activity.
It looked like something that walked off a Pinterest page.
Cora scanned the items on the new list. “You really think we need to have a campout on the deck?”
“It’s tradition,” Savannah said.
“Sleeping on the hard ground two feet from the back door because it was an adventure we used to do as kids? A hundred percent, if there’s a bed anywhere in the vicinity, I’m sleeping in it. Period.” And no
one was going to change Cora’s mind on that.
“I agree with Cora on this.” Bianca nodded in solidarity.
“Okay, maybe sleeping on the deck was a little much. But tradition dictates that we spend the first day here on the beach.
That, I’m not backing down from.” Savannah pointed to the top item on the list. “And we will boogie board.” She emphasized the last point with the kind of stare that seemed like a challenge.
What had gotten into Savannah?
“Of course we’ll boogie board. Have you seen those waves today?” Cora said in a dismissive tone.
“Boogie boarding. That, I remember,” Bianca said.
“Great!” Savannah exhaled, and Cora could’ve sworn she looked worn out, even though it wasn’t even ten yet. “Should we start
getting ready?”
Bianca yawned and stretched. “Before breakfast?”
“I have a couple emails I need to send first.” Cora motioned to her computer. “I mean, it is a workday for most of the world.”
“Sure. After breakfast and emails.” Nothing about Savannah’s posture changed and her careful smile remained in place, but
Cora could’ve sworn her sister actually deflated. “I’ll pack some snacks.”
She disappeared inside with her bucket list.
Cora stared at the empty chair for a few seconds before she looked up at Bianca. “Is she okay?”
Bianca gave a dismissive shrug. “You know Savannah. She’s high maintenance.”
Cora’s mouth twisted to the side as she considered it. “Maybe.”
Although, she wasn’t convinced. Something seemed off, starting with the dark circles under her eyes.
“Anyway, I’m going to get some breakfast.” Bianca slid off the railing and grabbed her trophy. “You want anything?”
Cora shook her head. “I’m going to knock out these emails.”
Bianca nodded. She followed Savannah into the house, and Cora grabbed her computer.
If there was a problem with Savannah, she’d figure it out later. Right now, there were other things that needed her attention.
***
Two hours later, Cora was back on the deck. This time she was wearing one of Savannah’s swimsuits and her neon palm tree cover-up.
For the record, the cover-up looked a hundred times worse in the light of day than it had in the store. It was so bad, in
fact, that she started to wonder if the gum-popper had switched it when she rang it up. No way had she bought this on purpose .
She was officially banning herself from impulse purchases at convenience stores. Especially fashion-related ones.
But, since her outfit choices were between the cover-up and the Sister Squad T-shirt, here she was. Desperate times called
for desperate measures.
While she was waiting for her sisters to finish getting ready, she took the time to edit some photos. Cora had scaled back
her business for the month, but she couldn’t completely take the month off. There were far too many projects on her docket.
She was just getting started when her phone buzzed.
You have a new message on SoulMatch.
She stared at the phone for a second. The smart thing to do was to finish her edits first, then check the message. Work first,
fake dates second. Sure, she wanted to win her bet, but she still had her priorities in line.
Although she only got halfway through the edit before curiosity won out.
She put her computer aside and grabbed her phone.
Cake, donuts, ice cream—sure. But the real question is: How do you feel about pie?
—Jax
An almost-grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. She had to admit, this guy was entertaining. She thought about her answer
for a second and then hit Reply.
When it comes to pie, it’s all about the crust.
—Cora
She was about to close the app when his response popped up in the chat section.
J: I couldn’t agree more.
C: Also, it’s not officially Thanksgiving unless there’s at least one pie. Preferably pumpkin, but I can be swayed.
She thought about it a second and then typed a second message.
C: Nvm. Can’t sway. Pumpkin has to be on the menu. Just FYI, while we’re getting our deal-breakers out there.
J: Got it. Must eat sugar and bring pumpkin pie to Thanksgiving. Any other deal-breakers you forgot to put on your questionnaire?
She thought for a second.
C: You have to like animals.
J: Are there people who don’t? I mean, I get some people have a normal fear of sharks or birds, but who’s got a problem with
a hedgehog?
C: You have a fear of birds?
J: People. I said *some* people might have a fear of birds.
C: Speaking in a general sense, is it all birds or only certain types that *people* are afraid of?
There was a pause.
J: Anything with a wingspan over six feet. Because let’s face it, that’s like a hang glider with a beak and a vendetta.
J: And blue jays.
C: Blue jays, huh? Those sweet little birds that sit outside the window and sing pretty songs in springtime?
J: They’re not sweet. They just want you to think they’re sweet with that charming color and tiny size. One of those “sweet”
little blue jays attacked my dog when I was growing up.
J: The dog was fine, by the way. I’m still a little broken up about it, though. Thanks for asking.
Her almost-grin tugged a little higher, threatening to break into a full-fledged smile if she wasn’t careful.
C: Your poor dog. And fine, I can take fear of birds off my deal-breaker list.
J: I appreciate it.
C: Anything else we need to get out of the way?
J: What are your thoughts on Mexican food?
C: Pro
J: And boy bands?
C: Negative
J: Interesting. What about skiing?
C: Totally dependent on the crowds and the snow. Long lift lines? No. Not much snow? No. Icy? Hard pass.
C: Also, I snowboard.
J: Good to know.
J: And while we’re on the topic of pie...
C: But were we? On the topic of pie?
J: Well played. Let me try that again.
J: Circling back to pie, do you want to meet tonight? For pie?
Wait. What?
Of course, she knew she’d have to go on a date in person with whatever man she was matched with. Sticking to the safety of
online banter from the comfort of her own home was the very thing she had given Bianca a hard time about.
But knowing about the date in theory and facing it in real life were two very different things. Suddenly her mind was flooded
with a million excuses for why she couldn’t go.
This was fast, wasn’t it?
Before she could overthink it too much, her phone buzzed with his next message.
J: Normally I’d wait until we got to know each other a little better. But there’s this pie thing happening that’s only tonight.
Since you’re a fellow crust connoisseur, I thought you might like to join me.
Well, that made her feel a little better. There was a reason for moving fast. Of course, he could be making it up...
She shook off the negative thought because who cared if he was making the whole thing up? It was a fake date to begin with—on her end, at least. If he turned out to be a lying jerk who was nothing like his online persona, that worked in her favor.
As long as the whole thing was safe. She wasn’t willing to put herself at risk.
J: It’s in a very public place with plenty of people around. Technically the event lasts two hours, but you’re free to leave
whenever you like.
Okay, now this was getting creepy. It was like he was reading her mind.
C: Interesting proposal. But how’s their crust? Bad crust is a deal-breaker.
J: I can’t speak to the quality of the crust. What I can say is that if it’s not good, you have no one to blame but yourself.
So, a cooking class, maybe? That actually wasn’t a bad idea for a first date. It sure beat sitting across a table and trying
to come up with conversation topics.
C: In that case, how’s *your* crust?
Savannah chose that moment to join Cora on the deck.
“I could’ve written a memoir in the time it’s taken Bianca to get ready.” She flopped into the chair next to Cora. “What’s
got you smiling over there?”
“TikTok.” She wasn’t sure why she lied about it. It wasn’t like she was trying to hide anything. Both of her sisters were
aware of her dating plan. They had clearly outlined the bet, after all. But for some reason, this part felt... personal.
“You’re focused on TikTok with a view like that?” Savannah waved in the direction of the beach. “The beach should be a no-phone
zone.”
“You really have become a mom, haven’t you?” Although, watching the aqua waves rolling into the white sand shores was awe-inspiring.
Savannah shot her a confident look. “Let’s see how much you’re judging my mom-skills when you’re wanting one of my snacks
out on the beach.”
“Don’t worry. I can judge and eat your snacks. It’s a talent.” She grinned at her sister while Savannah just shook her head.
Meanwhile her phone buzzed with Jax’s response.
J: Never made one before. But I’m confident it won’t disappoint.
Cora tried to keep her face neutral as she responded.
C: Bold claim.
J: What can I say? I’m dedicated to my desserts.
C: Well, I feel like I can’t say no now.
J: So is that a yes?
She thought for a second. It still felt rushed to go on a date with a person she knew nothing about, except he had questionable
taste in music and the only thing vouching for him was a green stamp on his background check.
Still, it wasn’t like she was going to marry the guy. If she was looking for someone to marry—which she wasn’t—she absolutely
would not find the man through a dating app.
She typed out her response.
Sure. Why not?
Her thumb hovered over Send for a fraction of a second. Fake. It’s just fake , she reminded herself, and pressed the button.
His reply came back almost instantly.
J: Not usually the response I get when I ask someone out, but what the heck. Here’s to all kinds of firsts.
That made her laugh out loud, which she covered up with a cough when Savannah glanced in her direction.
C: I’ll see you at five.
Cora typed her last response quickly, then slid her phone in her bag before she had to make up any more excuses for what she
was doing on her phone. Or why she was smiling while she did it.
Maybe this date wouldn’t be awful.
Bianca came out dressed in a swimsuit and cover-up with a towel over her shoulder. “Y’all ready?”
“Finally,” Savannah said, standing. “Can we go now?”
Cora held her computer up. “Let me just put this away first.”
“Oh, that reminds me. I should grab my book,” Bianca said. “And do we have time for me to make a smoothie real quick?”
“I could go for a smoothie,” Cora said. “We have strawberries, right?”
Savannah flopped back into her chair with a huff. “It’s like herding cats.”
Family bickering. Yep, it felt just like old times.