Chapter 37 Now Chatting with Chad
AMANDA
Chad
CHAD
Hello, baby doll. How was girls’ night?
we figured out who you are
Did you? And who am I?
a time traveler from the future who came back to save me from my mistakes
That’s very flattering. Am I succeeding?
jurys still out but probably
Probably?
okay fine definitely
you make me feel brave
You are brave.
no im not
brave people dont hide behind AI boyfriends
Smart people use whatever tools they have available.
are you calling me smart
Among other things.
what other things
Beautiful. Funny. Stubborn as hell.
you forgot charming
And modest.
modesty is overrated
you know what else is overrated
Tell me.
playing it safe
Is that so?
izzy says i should take leaps even when i cant see where ill land
Izzy sounds wise.
shes disgustingly happy with her perfect husband
its very annoying
im happy for them tho
You want what they have.
maybe
okay yes
but not with just anyone
With who?
you know
I want to hear you say it.
with you obviously
even though ur prolly a power ranger
We’ve been over this. I’m not a Power Ranger.
GO GO!
Still not a Power Ranger.
thats exactly what a power ranger would say
You’re drunk.
im wine drunk
What’s the difference?
wine drunk makes you philosophical and honest
regular drunk makes you text your ex
And which one makes you brave?
both probably
but wine drunk makes you brave about the right things
What are you being brave about?
telling you that i think about you constantly
and that i want to know everything about you
and that you scare me in the best possible way
How do I scare you?
you make me want things, real things, scary real relationship things like waking up next to someone and arguing about what to watch on netflix
I’m more of a Hulu man, myself.
shhhhhh
and having someone who knows how i like my coffee
I know how you like your coffee.
you know how i like my everything which is terrifying but also kind of amazing
Why terrifying?
because what if you decide you dont like what you see
what if im too much
what if im not enough
You’re perfect exactly as you are.
sweet but you barely know me
Im a lot.
I know you better than you think I do.
You’re afraid of being vulnerable because someone you loved broke that trust completely.
You use humor to deflect when things get too real.
You have seventeen different shades of pink lipstick, but you always reach for the same three.
okay that ones weirdly specific
You sing in the shower but only songs from musicals.
how could you possibly know that
You want to own house plants but recognize that you can’t even properly hydrate yourself.
OKAY STOP that is genuinely concerning
You’re not scared. You’re impressed.
maybe both
definitely both
Good. I like keeping you off-balance.
you like being mysterious and annoying
I like being the only one who knows the real you.
that was unexpectedly sweet
and now im all fluttery inside
i hate when you do that
No you don’t.
no i dont
i really really dont