Page 39 of Just One: Box Set

Chapter Two

L eaning against the fence, Calli watched the middle schoolers burn off their seemingly endless energy on the field.

After two years of teaching, she’d discovered a new passion: coaching the girls’ soccer team.

It was refreshing to watch these young girls go after something with such drive, a stark contrast to how she spent most of her day trying to keep them engaged in the classroom.

“You daydreaming again?” Shelly’s voice pierced through the warm summer air, pulling Calli from her thoughts. Her assistant coach and best friend stood beside her, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. “What’s got you so spacey today, Calli?”

“Nothing much,” Calli replied, shrugging. “Just wondering how these kids can stay so innocent in a world full of so much chaos.”

Shelly laughed, shaking her head. “Damn, girl. Aren’t you a little young to be so jaded?”

Calli raised an eyebrow in response. Shelly, a few years older than her, had embraced a carefree lifestyle. At thirty-five, she was wild and untamed, with a hot husband who treated her like royalty. Calli envied that, in a way. “I’m not jaded… just realistic.”

“Realistic, huh? Or maybe still hung up on that douchebag ex of yours?” Shelly’s voice softened, but the concern was clear.

With a frustrated sigh, Calli kicked at a rock, watching it tumble across the grass. “No… well, maybe. Why did he have to be such a dick? I really thought he was the one, you know?”

Shelly shook her head, eyes filled with sympathy. “Girl, he was a player. We all told you his constant distance was a red flag.”

Calli bit her lip, not wanting to admit Shelly was right.

“I didn’t believe it… not entirely. But yeah, you’re right.

I’m done with men for now. I can’t even think about dating again after him.

I mean, he slept with someone else, Shelly.

And I found out because of Peter's mom. How embarrassing is that?”

The memory stung. At the school’s open house, one of her student’s moms—who had gone to school with Calli—casually mentioned seeing her boyfriend at a club with another woman.

When Calli confronted him, he acted like it was nothing, saying they weren’t exclusive.

He’d claimed she was overreacting. Funny how she’d thought they were serious.

Hell, she wasn’t even having sex with him at the time, but apparently, he was getting it somewhere else.

“Maybe he cheated because you wouldn’t sleep with him. I mean, seriously, fuck that guy,” Shelly scoffed.

“You’re probably right,” Calli muttered. “And now I have no plans to date. Once burned, twice shy.”

Shelly grinned mischievously. “You know what you need?”

“A vow of celibacy?”

“Ha, no,” Shelly barked, turning her attention to Katherine, who was recklessly attacking the soccer ball. “Katherine, stop being so wild! You’re going to hurt someone!”

Turning back to Calli, Shelly continued, “You need to download I-Hope. It’s this dating app my sister swears by. She met her fiancé on there, and they’re getting married soon. It could work for you.”

Calli let out a laugh. “A dating app? I could meet the next serial killer on there.”

Shelly grinned, rolling her eyes. “Oh, please. You don’t meet them at home, and you don’t give them your address. You’re gorgeous, Calli. Don’t let that asshole ruin you for all men. Knitting at home like an old lady is not the answer.”

Calli snorted at the dig about her hobby.

Sure, she made good money selling knitted goods on Etsy, but it didn’t make her feel any more desirable.

At five-foot-three with curves that most men seemed to ignore, she hadn’t felt gorgeous in a long time.

And when guys found out she was still a virgin at twenty-five, they ran for the hills.

Apparently, inexperience was a dealbreaker.

“I don’t know, Shelly,” Calli sighed. “I’m over men. I’m not sure if a dating app is going to fix that. Plus, I’m busy helping Phillip and Allison plan their wedding.”

“Excuses, excuses,” Shelly teased, nudging her shoulder. “You’re scared to take a chance. But who knows? Your sexy hero might be waiting for you out there.”

Calli rolled her eyes. “I don’t need a hero. If I want one, I’ll just open a book. I’ve survived this long without sex… what’s a few more years?”

Shelly laughed knowingly. “You say that now, but trust me, once you’ve had a good romp, you’ll eat those words.”

With practice over and the weekend about to begin, Calli headed home, but Shelly’s words gnawed at her. Later, as she sat on her couch, phone in hand, she caved. Searching the app store for I-Hope, she shook her head. “I’m really doing this,” she muttered as the app downloaded.

Just as she was about to chicken out, Shelly burst into the room, catching her red-handed. “What’s got you staring at your phone like it’s about to explode?” she teased.

“I downloaded that stupid app, and now I’m too scared to finish the profile,” Calli admitted.

Without warning, Shelly snatched the phone from her hands. “Don’t worry, I got this.” Her fingers moved quickly, and before Calli could protest, Shelly had created her profile. “There! You’re officially on the market, my friend.”

Calli groaned when she saw what Shelly had done. “Seriously? A Dalmatian puppy as my profile picture? And what kind of username is DoggyStyle? It sounds perverted!”

Shelly only grinned, unbothered. “Relax. It’s fun. And hey, no one’s judging you based on your looks now. They’ll have to get to know the real you first.”

A message notification dinged, and Calli’s eyes went wide. “Oh my god… I already got a message.”

“You’re welcome,” Shelly said smugly, strolling out of the room.

Alone on the couch, Calli hesitated. Could this really be the answer? Taking a deep breath, she opened the app. The message was from some guy with the handle Sx4days . The words made her stomach churn.

Sx4days: Why no photo? You ugly or something?

Her heart sank, and with a frustrated sigh, she deleted the message. “Great start,” she muttered sarcastically. But she promised Shelly she’d try, so she kept scrolling.

And then she saw him. DallyDude . His profile caught her eye, partly because his icon matched hers. Dalmatian buddies, apparently. Clicking on his profile, she read his bio— Single guy looking for someone to explore forever with.

It was simple, but intriguing. His profile said he was six-foot-three, athletic, and loved quiet nights with Netflix—and maybe some chill. He wasn’t looking for a hookup, just something real. Her heart fluttered unexpectedly.

Taking a deep breath, Calli typed out a message before she could second-guess herself.

DoggyStyle: Hi, DallyDude. Love the Dalmatian! I would love to chat.

With a click, she sent it and tossed her phone aside, half-expecting it to blow up in her face.

“Well,” she mumbled into the empty room, “this might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”

But maybe, just maybe, it was the start of something different.