“All right, all right,” he says. “Last one, I promise. Tell me about your computer stuff.”

I do, and he dutifully doesn’t bring up Sara again. But even after I hang up, I can’t help but wonder if the way I feel about her is that obvious. And if so... Has she noticed, too?

Chapter Fourteen

Braden

I wake up feeling like a zombie. The launch party was a success—well, at least, the parts of it I remember. My mouth tastes like I licked an ashtray, and I vaguely remember smoking a cigar the night before. Water, I need water.

I roll over and my brain screams.

“Rough night?” my roommate asks from his desk. He’s working on homework and has clearly been up for hours.

“A little bit.” I fumble for my water bottle and take a long sip. I reach for my phone and detach it from the charger so that I can use it without getting out of bed. After checking my texts to make sure I didn’t send any bad drunk messages, I click on my email.

There’s the usual spam from various companies I’ve bought stuff from online, daily updates from the various newspapers I subscribe to and dorm-list server messages. The usual.

But one message stands out. The subject line is Re: Perfect10. It’s a reply to one of the blind inquiries I sent out yesterday to venture capitalist firms.

I sit up, my brain rattling against my skull. I click on the email.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: RE: Perfect10

Hi Braden,

I’m interested in hearing more about this endeavor, but my schedule is pretty booked. We had a cancellation on Friday at 1 p.m., if your team is willing to meet then.

Tell your dad I say hello.

Best,

Michael

Oh fuck. Today is Friday.

I check the time—it’s twelve. And their office is at least twenty minutes away.

I spring out of bed, texting rapidly. I stalk to my wardrobe and yank it open, then tug on pants with one hand while I text with the other.

Me: Angel investor wants to meet exactly one hour from now on Sand Hill, you need to get ready ASAP

Sara: what?!!?

Robbie: damn okay

Robbie: hopping in the shower now

Sara: are you kidding me?! There’s no time!

Sara: Should we still go?

Sara: Are you ready for this?

Sara: Braden?!!!!!

Sara tries to call me, but I click Decline and instead scroll through my contacts.

“Hello?” Professor Thomas answers on the second ring.

“Hi, Professor, this is Braden Hart from your class and I’m one of the founders of Perfect—”

“I put my phone number on the syllabus for emergencies. Could you maybe just stop by office hours?”