Chapters (45)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Pulse
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY–ONE
- TWENTY–TWO
- TWENTY–THREE
- TWENTY–FOUR
- TWENTY–FIVE
- TWENTY–SIX
- TWENTY–SEVEN
- TWENTY–EIGHT
- TWENTY–NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY–ONE
- THIRTY–TWO
- THIRTY–THREE
- THIRTY–FOUR
- THIRTY–FIVE
- THIRTY–SIX
- THIRTY–SEVEN
- THIRTY–EIGHT
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- RESOURCES
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- What’s next onyour reading list?
That afternoon she’d visited each venue she’d recruited to confirm their participation. These included places on campus (the food court; all the kiosks in the student center; the music hall, which had a concert scheduled; and the outdoor amphitheater, which was hosting an open mic night) and off campus (the new pizza place that’d just opened and a comedy club). Lucy had spread the word to the summer students by coordinating with the university and using its communication channels. She’d also posted signs all over campus, ensuring the Pulse logo was front and center, as big as ValleyStart. Students might not know ValleyStart, but they knew Pulse.
To reach more potential betas, Lucy had compiled a list of users who’d tagged Mountain View U on social media. She then cross-referenced that list with Pulse, categorizing users by number of hearts. She’d scheduled posts about the beta test from her personal accounts, tagging users with the highest Pulse rankings.
She’d done what she could. And now, it was up to Lit.
Lucy swung her arms to help release the buildup of nerves as she marched down the main path that led to the enclave of dorms and passed under the seventy-year-old wisteria arbor. The last remaining purple flowers from the springtime bloom dangled through the lattice, releasing the heady scent that always reminded Lucy of cat pee.
She lifted her hand to cover her nose at the same time as a figure in front of her in khaki shorts and a white tee turned around and leaned against the post at the end of the long arbor.
Gavin.
She lightened her step and tossed her hand back down to her side, but not fast enough.
He thought she was waving. And he waved back.
Lucy spun her head, searching for an out. But this path cut straight through campus with nothing but expansive green lawn on either side, dotted by a few sunbathers, Frisbee throwers, and a group playing giant Jenga. Any buildings loomed too far in the distance to get to unnoticed. She’d have to stay and walk past Gavin—the Gavin she’d yet to forgive for being a sexist ass in front of half of ValleyStart at the party in the common room. She quickened her pace and focused straight ahead.
“Hey,” Gavin said. “Wasn’t sure you were talking to me.”