Chapter Three: Swipe left, swipe right

“Look who’s here!” Avery exclaimed, pulling me down to sit with the girls.

She giggled with excitement. “Finally, you made it.”

“You know I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world, best friend. You’re engaged!“ I gushed.

”I knoooow, girl! Meet the newest bride-to-be!” she yelped joyfully, flaunting her new cushion-cut diamond ring at me.

I tried to smile. She was glowing and I was genuinely happy for her, but why does it make me a little jealous?

The lounge was warm and bright with gentle gray lights. A mix of soft jazz and upbeat pop played low from the speakers. The laughter and clinking of cocktail glasses filled the air, creating a lively and relaxed mood.

”Girl, you're barely mingling. Come on, loosen up a little!" Chloe urged, leaning back in her seat to study me.

I managed a small smile that probably looked like it was carved into my face. “I'm… I’m fine, really.”

She studied me for a while, as if she could read my mind. Could they really see through me?

“You should d******d ALLURE,” She said, with a wink. Her phone screen lit up, and she waved it with a smile. “Everybody needs a little secret.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play innocent now, Reese,” Anna interrupted, gliding her manicured hand around the rim of her dirty martini glass. “ALLURE is exactly what you need. That's where the real magic happens—Private, discreet, top-tier men only, darling.”

“It's a dating app,” Sophie said lightly.

I almost choked on my drink. A dating app... for me? The ease that flashed in their eyes. The way they said it, like it was the most natural thing in the world to suggest to a married woman.

I let out a thin laugh. “You guys can’t be serious, I’m married.”

“Married?… We all know your husband barely even looks at you.”

I parted my lips slightly, unsure how they could have known. “Huh?”

“We’re your friends and we notice you,” Chloe said, her voice low. “ And it's not just you, Reese. Honestly… it feels like these men— our husbands, don't give a damn.”

“Jeffery didn't even notice I got a new haircut last week,” Anna chimed in, with a sigh. “He spent the whole week talking about his colleagues.”

I bit my lower lip to keep myself from laughing. “So… it's normal, then?”

“Normal?” she scoffed, shaking her head. “Ugh, don't get me started.”

Avery, who had finally stopped admiring her glittering ring, leaned forward with a frown. “Hell no. Don't lure her into joining the app.”

“It's called trying out new things, Avery.” Sophie rolled her eyes at her.

“Besides, didn't you find your Mr. Perfect on this same app?”

“Well, that's because I'm the only single one here,” Avery snapped.

“All we’re saying is… everyone’s on one these days.” Sophie gave a mischievous grin “Even married people. I’m talking about fun, harmless flirting. No… serious stuff.”

I hesitated, the noise around me suddenly fading as my mind raced. “We have kids together. That's not… I can't just—”.

“Girl,” Anna cut in, beaming. “We have kids too. We’ve got so many roles—wife, mother, that we've forgotten how to just be… us. A woman. Flirty, curious, full of life. Don't tell me you haven't thought of a little excitement for yourself.”

Avery squeezed my hand. “You don't have to do any of it if you don't want to.”

“Yeah, really. But when was the last time he planned a date? Or looked up from his laptop to listen to you talk about your day? Or asked a question that wasn't about dinner or his laundry?” Chloe added, drawing my eyes away from Avery.

“This man doesn't care about you and it's time you realize that you married for money and not love. Don’t you… Don’t you ever want to feel seen?”

I could feel my stomach twisting. Seen. That was something I haven't felt in a long time. When was the last time he really looked at me? Not the random nod over breakfast, or the quick ‘l have a meeting in Dubai’ before he disappears for days again.

My chest stuttered. “I’ve spent so long feeling invisible, pretending I'm fine. But is it really wrong to want that… to want to be seen?”

“Well, I've got to go, girls, “ I said, my glass already empty.

“Stay for one more drink,” Chloe said, waving her glass playfully in my direction.

I shook my head with a smile. “I can’t… I promised Laura a bedtime story,” I murmured, praying they wouldn’t notice the lie in my voice.

“Aww... mommy duties,” Sophie teased.

“Exactly,” I said, standing to get my coat. It was the quickest excuse I could come up with.

Avery hugged me tight. “Text me when you’re home, okay? And hey, I won’t judge whatever decision you make.”

“And remember, you deserve to be seen.” Anna said, with a weird smile.

…………………

Reese’s Apartment

It's almost midnight. The dinner I’d made earlier was already cold, and he still wasn’t home. I sat there, staring at it, wondering why I even bothered.

I walked softly down the hallway, peeking into the kids’ rooms.

Laura, my five-year-old daughter, lay curled, under her pink star-patterned blanket holding tightly onto her stuffed bunny. “Sleeping soundly, huh, sweetie?” I whispered.

And little Leo, my three-year-old son, was lying in his crib, teddy bear in one chubby arm, pacifier in the other. “And you, too Leo, my little man,” I said softly.

And then my phone buzzed.

A message from Carter: “Singapore asked for a physical meeting. Back in a week. Kiss the kids goodnight for me.”

My fingers tightened around the phone. A whole week. And I still fooled myself into cooking like he’d show up. An ache pressed against my chest. A familiar feeling of emptiness.

I sank into the chair. “Why do I keep doing this? Why do I keep showing up for a man who acts like I don’t exist?

Anna’s words echoed in my mind: “You deserve to be seen.”

Maybe it’s time to do something for myself. Just a little… nothing serious.

I picked up my phone and downloaded ALLURE.

My hand trembled as I stared at the app icon for what felt like forever. Just a look. Just to see… I didn’t even have to talk to anyone.

I tapped it open with a shaky breath. The registration asked for name, age, location… marital status. I hesitated before tapping ‘Single’. If I was going to explore this, even just a little, I’d need that freedom. No one has to know.

My heart raced as I flipped through the profiles— CEOs, Dog dads, a traveler with the bio: ‘Catching flights, not feelings.’ And then my stomach dropped.

A familiar smile. Familiar deep blue eyes. No. It couldn’t be.

I tapped the profile. My mouth slackened, and my heart was hammering with every second. Disbelief filled my eyes.

“My Liam.”

His name slipped out of my mouth before I could restrain it.

Liam. My ex-boyfriend. It’s been years, and now he’s here, on this app, staring back at me.

My fingers froze over the screen. A part of me wanted to ignore it, pretend like it was never there. But something inside me, maybe this emptiness pushed me to open it, to remember.

Why him? Why now? The thought hit harder than I expected. My jaw clenched, my throat went dry. Just seeing him here, in this… forbidden space, made everything feel more alive and dangerous.

A notification flashed: Liam liked your profile.

My heart jumped. I should close the app, pretend this never happened.

But the thought that he had noticed me made me feel ‘seen’ sending shivers through my body.

I hesitated, my thumb paused over the message button. If I tap, everything changes. If I don’t… I’ll probably regret it.

And then I did the one thing I couldn’t undo.

I pressed “Message”.