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Ryan: holy shit

Ryan: Johnny and your man are friends? Jesus. What are the odds of that?

Hayden: He’s not my man.

Hayden: At least I don’t think he is.

Ryan: still getting mixed signals?

Hayden: So many mixed signals.

Ryan: do you like him?

Hayden: Yeah

Hayden: But I have no idea what’s going on in his head.

Ryan: what about what’s going on in yours?

Hayden: No clue about that either.

Ryan: do you remember why you went on singles in the first place?

Hayden: Desperation?

Ryan: not sure about that but I remember you saying something about getting your back blown out by a hot guy who could rock your world

Hayden: I don’t remember this conversation.

Ryan: liar

Hayden: shut up

Ryan: you like him, he’s spent the entire weekend with you so he obviously likes you too. Why not just make a move? Step outside your comfort zone for once and go for what you want?

Hayden: What if he doesn’t want me back? What if I do and he’s not into it?

Ryan: then you block him and call me so we can talk shit about him and bitch about how much dating sucks and how we’re gonna die alone

Hayden: That’s supposed to be motivating?

Ryan: yup. Did it work?

Hayden: Sort of. I should get back. I told him I was taking out my contacts and I’ve been gone for way longer than I can explain.

Ryan: just think about what I said

Ryan: there’s nothing wrong with going after what you want

Hayden: Yeah. Thanks. Talk soon.

On autopilot, I took out my contacts and slipped my glasses on. My vision was right in that area where things were just blurry enough that not wearing them was annoying. Add in my astigmatism, and I couldn’t go outside at night without wearing either my contacts or my glasses.

“Hey,” River greeted as I came back into the living room. “Holy shit.” He stared at me, his mouth agape.

“What?” My face flamed hot. “Oh, right.” I looked away, and my stomach dropped into my feet. “Yeah. Nerd alert.”

“No!” River stood and hurried over to where I’d stopped a few feet from the couch. “It’s not that. I just…I kinda have a thing for glasses, and yours are nice.”