Chapter 2 2nd December - The Reply
Grace had barely slept. Every half hour she’d jolted awake, reaching for her phone, checking for a reply that never came. By the time dawn crept through the curtains, her eyes were gritty, her head heavy, and her heart still lodged somewhere between hope and humiliation. She must have drifted off at some point, because the next thing she knew, Sooty was meowing loudly. The room was too bright, Sooty was too energetic, and Grace’s brain was absolutely not ready for the day. But the moment she remembered last night, she grabbed her phone with a surge of adrenaline.
One new message. Her breath caught. Her thumb hovered.
Deep breaths, Gracie. It’s just a message. Just open it. Why is this so hard?
She tapped.
Lilith: Rise and shine sunshine. I'm on my way with coffee and bacon sandwiches.
Grace groaned and flopped back onto the bed. She loved Lilith, but she was not emotionally prepared for Lilith. Unfortunately, Sooty disagreed. He leapt onto the bed, pawing insistently at her hair until she dragged herself upright and shuffled toward the kitchen.
“Are you happy now, furball?” she muttered as he trotted beside her with the smug confidence of a creature who had never known rejection.
She had just opened the cat food when the front door unlocked and Lilith swept in—confident, sassy, and carrying breakfast like a victorious warrior returning from battle. She deposited the food on the counter, handed Grace a coffee, and waited until Sooty was fed before turning with a too‑sweet smile that spelled trouble.
“So, Gracie… what happened last night? You were going to message John and then you went very quiet.”
Grace wished the floor would open and swallow her whole. “Nothing happened, Lils,” she tried, but her voice was thin and unconvincing.
“Nothing my foot. Did you send the message? What did John say? Are you going out again?”
“I did send it. John said nothing. So… no, I don’t think we’re going out again.”
Lilith stared at her, stunned. “Didn’t reply at all, or didn’t reply to your proposition?”
“Well… it’s a long story.”
And so Grace told her everything—the wrong number, the mystery man called Luke, the accidental message, the unexpected conversation, and the long night waiting for a reply that never came. Lilith was silent for a full thirty seconds—an achievement that would have impressed anyone—before bursting into helpless giggles.
“Only you could manage that, Gracie.”
Grace rolled her eyes and reached for her phone again as it buzzed. Both women froze.
“Well open it,” Lilith urged.
John: While this is an interesting offer, I think I'm going to have to decline. I'm not sure we're right for each other, Grace. It was nice to meet you.
So that was it. He liked her through a screen, but in person she wasn’t what he wanted. She didn’t think she was hideous and all she wanted was connection. She thought they’d had a spark and he’d seemed genuinely nice, with those warm eyes she’d replayed in her mind more times than she cared to admit.
She didn’t realise she was crying until Lilith pressed a tissue into her hand.
“He’s not right for you, darling. And maybe the universe is giving you a sign—you did accidentally message another man, and he didn’t run for the hills.”
Lilith guided her to the sofa, Sooty curling up beside her like a furry emotional support cushion.
“It’s time to take your life into your own hands. Message Luke,” Lilith insisted.
“Not now,” Grace whispered, burying herself under the blanket. “I can’t take two rejections in one day.”
Her phone buzzed again.
--
Luke hadn’t slept either. A single message from a stranger had thrown him completely off balance. He’d spent the night checking his phone, waiting for Grace’s update, telling himself he didn’t care while caring far too much. He walked into the office and it wasn’t until Tommy shoved him into his office, closed the blinds, and stared at him with open horror that Luke realised how distracted he was.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Tommy demanded.
Luke blinked. “Good morning to you too.”
He looked down. Navy suit. One brown shoe. One black. Patterned tie. Differently patterned shirt. He looked like a man who had lost a fight with his wardrobe.
“Oh shit.”
Tommy sighed dramatically and called in Leanne, the leggy secretary who wore too much makeup, too much perfume, too little fabric, and far too much confidence for someone who couldn’t file alphabetically. He rattled off instructions for clothes while Luke stood there, bemused, as she tottered off on impossibly high heels.
“What’s going on, Lukey? You don’t come to work looking like you got dressed in the dark.”
“I didn’t sleep,” Luke muttered, checking his phone again. He’d checked it a hundred times overnight, waiting for Grace’s update.
Why is this affecting me? It was a mistaken message. She’s probably with her guy now anyway. Pull yourself together, Lukey. You don’t need another issue with a woman who doesn’t know when to stop. At least Grace is not all over me.
“This about whatever you were grinning at yesterday?” Tommy asked.
Busted.
“I got a message from an unknown number. A… proposition of sorts. Wrong number. But she was different. I can’t explain it. It was only a few messages, but it felt different. I’ve been checking to see if she replied.”
Tommy’s expression softened. “Lukey, you’ve got a big meeting today. We need you focused. We can drown your sorrows tonight over Mystery Woman—or you can message her first. Whatever gets you back in the room.”
A sharp knock at the door drew Tommy away—Leanne had returned with clothes. Luke checked his phone again. Still nothing.
Tommy raised an eyebrow. “Just message her so you can get changed. Want help writing to your penpal?”
“Fuck off,” Luke muttered. “I’ll do it.”
To Grace: Morning. Did you get the reply you wanted last night?
Grace: Hi. Not really, no. Turns out he's a douche.
To Grace: I'm sorry to hear that. You deserve better anyway. What are your plans today?
Grace: I'm hiding under a blanket for most of today and then getting horribly drunk later. You?
To Grace: Big meeting this morning. But afterwards I might try the blanket and drunk thing. Sounds fun.
Grace: A big meeting sounds boring. I'm glad I don't have to do all that. I just organise things. The blanket and drunk thing is fun! I might start now. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, isn't it?
To Grace: Try not to get too drunk too early. What is it you do?
Grace: I'm an office manager for a small stationery firm. What about you? You strike me as a boss!
To Grace: I might be looking for a new secretary soon. Mine is... inappropriate. And I am a boss, but what kind, you'll have to find out.
He hesitated, then added:
To Grace: Message me later and let me know how you're doing.
He stared at the screen long after the message sent.
What have I gotten into? Why is it making me smile? And why don’t I want it to stop?
