Dating the Doubter

HARRISON

I’ve seen enough brokenhearted saps crying over lost love to know love doesn’t really exist. Infatuation, sure. Lust, absolutely. But true love? Please. That’s strictly fiction, folks.

Unfortunately, I haven’t convinced my best friend and business partner of that. The guy’s still a believer in happily-ever-after, despite having met—and lost—“the one” more times than I can count. And that’s pretty damn high, since I’m the numbers guy behind our hot new startup.

Tonight, I wish I had my buddy’s technical skillset. If I did, I’d be back at our twentieth-floor office, solving our system crash. Instead, I’m taking his place at yet another pointless speed-dating meetup, so he doesn’t tick off the organizer by bailing. I’m tempted to no-show and get him booted from the group, but he wouldn’t see it as the favor it is.

So I’ll go and fake it for a couple hours. Maybe score a hookup. Probably rack up some good stories. One thing I won’t do at tonight’s “Desperates Anonymous” event…meet the woman of my dreams. Because she doesn’t exist. Dating is fun and games. Love is for suckers.

A love-at-first-sight, instalove romance novella *