Secret Admirer Read Online Free PDF Page B

response.
    Garrett—U never said what your weekend plans are
    Me—Guess not. Too boring, furniture shopping
    Garrett—Yup.
    Me—R U at your parents?
    Garrett—Yes. Drive took forever with snow
    Me—K to ask where u r?
    Garrett—Western MA. Where are you from?
    Me—RI
    Garrett—so what brought u to Hartford?
    Me—job, u?
    Garrett—went to UConn, internship led to job yada yada
    Me—got it
    Garrett—is Andi short for something?
    Me—Andressa, but everyone calls me Andi
    Garrett—It’s a beautiful name, u should embrace it. I’m opposite—won’t answer to Gary, only full name
    Me—okay Garrett-not-Gary
    Garrett—well, nice chatting, Andressa. Have to stop hiding from the family and let Mom nag me
    Me—good luck!
    Garrett—thx. Talk again?
    Me—sure, yes
    What. Just. Happened? I stared at the blank screen on my phone as if the glass could somehow explain the Friday night text-conversation with a guy I’d never met. Was I losing my mind? I scrolled back through the conversation again to be sure the flirty exchange really happened. I was practically stalking a guy I’d barely said ten words to in person, and now my heart was racing from a string of texts with a virtual stranger. Yes, I was losing my mind. Sure, I wanted a change and was ready to meet new friends and hopefully find a nice guy, but this was not what I imagined. This, this was nuts.
    And what was all that about letting him call me Andressa? I did let him, didn’t I? I didn’t tell him not to, or even try to correct him. Why didn’t I? I never let anyone call me that. Should I?
    I hit the play button on my remote, but was too distracted and I lost track of the show’s plot. My dinner went cold as my mind wandered. After the credits rolled, I prepared for bed still thinking about Garrett. I hoped he received a good report on me from one of the friends I met at Jake’s Bar and didn’t normally text strangers. I told myself it still beat on-line dating and powered off everything in my apartment, but it took some time for my mind to follow suit.

Chapter Five
    Connor was already securing a lid when I entered the Fresh Start on Tuesday. Thanks to the telltale bell announcing my arrival, he looked toward the door and saw me.
    And he smiled.
    I gave him a low wave and took my place in line. I sucked in my cheeks to suppress a goofy grin. We’d made progress, and I considered the exchange of acknowledgement normal for this stage. I hoped Bree would approve when I related the events at lunch.
    I decided to keep the interaction with Garrett to myself for a while. I feared telling her and also liked having this secret to myself, or between him and me. I had no reason to worry about her finding out that day, because all she wanted was to talk about the fact that Alec did not “put a ring on it” over the weekend.
    She droned on about all the times she thought he might actually propose while I took off my coat and stashed my bag under my desk. As my computer booted up, I turned my attention to logging in and hoped she’d get the hint I was ready to work.
    “Meet me for lunch, and I’ll tell you the whole story.” She left my doorway she’d been slouching against.
    I was now smack in the middle of tax season with no lack of work in sight. The morning flew by, and as lunchtime approached, I tried to complete as much as possible, but ran out of steam. Rummaging through my large hobo-style bag for a few candy hearts, I reasoned a little sugar couldn’t hurt. I took my coffee black, so the treat was a trade-off. I ripped open a fresh bag of large hearts and arranged For Sure , True Love , and Cutie Pie on my desk, then reached in for two more. I smirked at seeing Go For It and Secret Admirer .
    While I crunched on the candy, I saw my phone vibrate on my desk. I picked it up right away, and I entered my passcode with curiosity.
    Garrett—Hey!
    Excited to hear from him, I stood then paced around my office while reading and replying.
    Me—Hi,