Page 10 of My Unhinged Alphas

---

Mara grins. “We’ll put that on a T-shirt.”

Jess hands me the phone. “Start with a picture.”

I groan. “Absolutely not. I don’t take cute candid photos. I take holding a mop at ten p.m. photos.”

“That’s relatable,” Mara says.

Jess starts snapping pictures before I can protest, catching me mid eye roll.

“Perfect,” she declares.

I glance at the screen. I look… normal. Not influencer hot. Not dramatic. Just me.

Average. Replaceable.

Jess nudges me. “You’re going to match immediately.”

“I doubt that,” I say, but my stomach flips anyway.

She finishes setting up the profile while I protest weakly about privacy settings and bio wording.

“What should it say?” she asks.

I think for a second, then shrug. “Chronic overthinker. Can foam milk into a swan. Will absolutely judge your coffee order.”

Mara laughs. “Add something cute.”

“I am the cute thing,” I deadpan.

Jess types quickly, then hands the phone back to me. “Done.”

I stare at the screen for a moment longer than I mean to.

This feels small. Insignificant. Just an app. Just a swipe.

But something in my chest feels unsteady.

“Okay,” I say softly. “Now what?”

Jess grins. “Now,” she says, “we wait.”

I don’t even have time to overthink it. The screen barely refreshes before it lights up.

It’s a match.

All three of us freeze.

“That was fast,” Mara says slowly.

I stare at the profile. His name is Ethan.

Of course it is.

The photo looks professionally shot without looking like it’s professionally shot. Dark suit jacket. Crisp white shirt. Expensive watch that doesn’t scream but absolutely whispers. He’s standing in front of what looks like a rooftop bar with the city skyline behind him.

His smile is polished. Confident. Too symmetrical.

“He’s fake,” I say immediately.

---