Page 10

9

Luca: How much trouble would I be in if I asked to move this conversation from this app, to texting?

Nova: Never any harm in ASKING…

Luca: Would it sweeten the deal if I told you…I’m a phenomenal texter?

Nova: Any proof to back that up?

Luca: You give me your number, I’ll send a preview.

Nova: If I do that it better NOT be a picture of your dick.

Luca: I WOULD NEVER do that. Never have, never will. I was talking about my dog.

Nova: Oh.

Nova: Of course you were. I saw him on your profile.

Luca: His name is Nugget. He’s got a snaggle tooth and a superiority complex. You’d love him.

Nova: Sounds like he takes after his owner…

Luca: Wow. You wound me.

Luca: Seriously, you’re terrible for my ego.

Nova: Sorry, this is how I flirt. My best friend Poppy has warned me dozens of times to dial it down a notch.

Luca: I think it’s adorable that this is your “dialed down” version—and you still haven’t given me your number.

Nova: 555-892-9010 3 **blows kisses**

Luca (text): Saved you as Starshine OFF-LIMITS in my phone on the off chance your brother is breathing up my asshole in the locker room.

Nova: So romantic.

Luca: Only the best for you, Starshine.

P hoto Attached: picture of a hot dude hiking taking a selfie with his dog

Nova: You look like an REI model who moonlights as a retriever dad. I can’t decide if I find that unsettling.

Luca: That’s the sexiest insult I’ve ever received.

Nova: That was a compliment!!!

Luca: Do you blame me? It’s hard to tell when you’re flirting or not! Not my fault…

Nova: Sorry. I’m going to do better. I have a tendency to push people away.

Luca: I gathered. But I get it. Walls up, sarcasm sharp. Classic defense system.

Nova: It’s easier to laugh things off than actually…feel stuff. But I’m working on it. I want to be a good partner to someone someday.

Luca: You don’t have to be perfect to be a good partner. Just be real. And honest—which you’re already doing.

Nova: Even when I’m emotionally constipated?

Luca: I like the messy, complicated parts. They make you, you.

Nova: Stop or you’re gonna make me cry.

Luca: Too early in the night for that, but nothing ice cream can’t fix.

Nova: Well now I’m blushing and hate it. How dare you see through all my sarcasm and emotional landmines and still want to talk to me? WHO DOES THAT?!

Luca: Someone who likes the way your brain works. I don’t scare easy.

Nova: Ugh. Why are you like this? Supportive and good-looking? Pick a lane, Babineaux. You can’t do both.

Luca: Can’t help it. I’m gifted. But if we’re being honest, and I think we can both agree we have been— brutally so…

Luca: I have no interest in being someone you keep at arm’s length.

Nova: Do you think that’s what I’m doing?

Luca: I think you’re used to doing that with most people—yeah. But with me? No. I don’t think that’s how you want to be acting. I think you're testing the water to see if I'll back off.

Luca: Spoiler: I won’t.

Nova: I’m not used to guys who are not massive douchebags…

Luca: You’ll get used to it LOL I’ll do my best not to be an asshole.

Nova: If I said you’re making this really hard to keep pretending I don’t like you back… would you promise not to get cocky about it?

Luca: Of course not. That would be boring as fuck.

Nova: Okay. Switching gears before I start writing sonnets about your emotional availability. Tell me about your people.

Nova: My people??

Nova: You know—your best friends. I think who a man surrounds himself with says a lot about him.

Luca: I’ve got a solid crew. My roommate Cash has zero impulse control and gets hurt constantly.

Nova: You have a ROOMMATE?! How did I not know that?

Luca: Cause you’re not supposed to know that. You were off-limits.

Luca: Anyway—Nugget is actually his dog.

Nova: What does Cash do for a living?

Luca: He’s also an athlete. Snowboarder. Isn’t in town much, which explains why I spend most of my time pet sitting.

Nova: Any other roommates??

Luca: Yeah, I live with Scaggs.

Nova: YOU DO?!

Luca: Why do you keep sounding so surprised?? Scaggs might be a rookie but he’s good people. A real pain in the ass, but he has to live somewhere and we had an extra room.

Nova: I have too many questions LOL

Luca: What about you? You’ve mentioned Poppy a couple times.

Nova: Poppy is my person. She’s loud and honest and ALWAYS ten minutes late to everything. We’ve been friends since my two years at college.

Luca: Two years?

Nova: Yes, I actually hated it? The dorms spooked me and I lasted 2 years before landing a job as Gio’s professional sister.

Luca: Ha ha. What do you actually do for work and why do I feel like a dumbass for not knowing??

Nova: LOL don’t feel dumb. I didn’t exactly post my résumé on the dating app.

Nova: I do digital marketing and content strategy for a fashion and home goods brand. Which is a fancy way of saying I write captions, schedule emails, and sometimes convince people to buy shit they probably do not need—and didn’t know they wanted.

Luca: So… you’re telling me you are the reason I bought a throw blanket and three candles last week?

Nova: If they were overpriced, with names like “Citrus Noir” and “Cozy Chaos,” then yeah, maybe.

Luca: Cozy Chaos is literally in my bathroom right now. This is alarming.

Nova: **takes a bow** You are so so welcome.

Luca: I like that you’re creative.

Nova: Most people just assume I sit around scrolling Instagram all day.

Luca: No no—don’t get me wrong, I definitely thought that.

Nova: SHUT UP lol

Luca: WHAT?! You said you wanted me to be honest.

Nova: No, YOU said that lol

Luca: I was teasing but also enjoying getting you all worked up.

Nova: You’re seriously so annoying.

Luca: You say annoying as if it were a bad thing…

Nova: God, you’re insufferable. Do you make everyone feel this flustered or am I just special?

Luca: Nope, it’s just you. I don’t waste this level of chaos on just anyone. You bring it out of me. I don’t even want to flirt like this with anyone else which is facts.

Nova: I have no idea if I should believe you or not.

Luca: Trust me. Also. I was supposed to be asleep an hour ago and now I’m lying in bed wondering what your laugh sounds like when no one else is around.

Nova: You can’t say things like that.

Luca: Too late.