GreatSc0t: Ah, got it. Must have gotten my signals crossed. Listen, I have to go. But good luck on here. It’s been nice chatting with you.

There’s no great way to do this. A rejection is a rejection. But better an obvious one than one that says something like, “Maybe chat again sometime?” Because no. They won’t.

RayaJack5 doesn’t respond, just logs off.

“Sorry that one didn’t work out,” I tell Jude, “but it sometimes takes a while to find someone worth chatting with.”

“Nah, man. I appreciate it,” he says. “The ‘efficiency’? Is that what you called it?” He laughs. “Well, you were right. It did save me a lot of time.”

“I’d suggest taking a gander at your matches yourself,” I say. “See if there’s anyone who catches your eye. We can initiate the conversation and start it off on the right foot.”

“Okay,” he says. “I’ll take a look.”

“Stick with the ‘Match’ section if you can,” I suggest.

“All right. I’ll let you know if I find anyone.”

“Great,” I respond. We say our good-byes and hang up, after which I immediately use my phone to order that cup of soba noodles.

Apparently, the delivery guy reaches the building at the same time as Dylan and Charles, because it’s, in fact, Charles who delivers the food to me.

I briefly consider tipping him, but there’s no option on Grub-hub for tipping the belligerent man whose house you’re crashing at. Besides, like any true New Yorker, I don’t have cash on me.

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 6

ZOEY

I sleep late on Saturday and ration myself to one cup of coffee while getting ready for my lunch appointment with Bree. At ten forty-five, Clifford lights up my phone with a video call request on WhatsApp. I could pretend it’s cutting it too close to my meeting at eleven, but the location’s one minute away. With a sense of impending doom, I answer the video chat.

“Hey champ! I’m calling all the rock stars this morning to make sure they installed WhatsApp.”

Clearly I did, or he couldn’t have called me on it. “Ay, ay, Captain.” I salute him, hoping that’ll be the end of it.

“Did you, ah, see the memo I sent around earlier?”

“I did, yes. Very cool about the . . .” I quickly scan the memo, surprised. “Oh wow, global initiative. I didn’t realize there was a demand for it.”

“Totes, totes. But, we really are in need of some visuals. Specifically, of people.”

“Oh, right. With an ‘international flavor.’ Like lamb-and-mint chips.”

“Good one! You have a mildly exotic face and I was wondering if you’re fully American, half, or just mostly. I can ask that because my ex-wife is Chinese.”

“Uh . . . I’m pretty sure no employer can ask that.”