CHAPTER TWO

"Hey, Shelby, do you want to go out after work tonight? It's just us girls," said Amber. She was always asking Shelby to join them, but the truth was, it usually turned into a drunk fest with a bunch of guys who just wanted to take them home for the night.

"I don't think so, Amber. You know I'm not much of a drinker. What about a movie?" The other woman laughed, shaking her head.

"A movie? Shelby, you act like you're sixty, not thirty. Just because you have to be stiff at work doesn't mean you have to be stiff in your private life." Shelby stared at the woman, feeling her emotions bubble to the surface.

"First of all, I'm thirty-six, not thirty. Second, I'm not stiff. I respect myself, Amber. I'm not just going to sleep with some stranger because it makes me feel good for one night. I married that asshole thirteen years ago, and look what it got me. Divorced. Cheated on. Humiliated."

"Hey, I'm sorry," said the other woman. "I didn't mean that. It's just that you need to get out more. What about a dating site?"

"A dating site? What do you mean?"

"I mean online dating. It's perfectly safe, and everyone does it. It's really easy. I'll set up your profile for you, and you do the rest," she said, turning to peck away on her computer keyboard.

"I don't know, Amber. Those things seem creepy to me."

"Look, just try it for three months. That's it. If it doesn't work, or you don't like it, you're only out sixty bucks."

She wasn't sure why she agreed, but she sat with Amber while she typed in a stupid introduction that she didn't care for. Then, she filled in her interests and hobbies. Books and being alone weren't an option, much to her disappointment. After that she selected what type of man she was interested in.

"Twenty-five to sixty-five? No, Amber. No. Thirty-six to fifty. That's my limit. I'm not going to raise someone else's son or help take care of some man get old."

"You're narrowing your choices."

"I don't care."

"Fine. Last thing, we need a good photo of you."

Amber took her outside, turning her this way, then that way, trying to get the right light and angle. Shelby wasn't sure it was possible. She'd gained twenty pounds since her divorce and returned to her natural light brown hair coloring. She'd spent too many years with her husband demanding she dye her hair blonde. Now, she felt more like herself.

"There! It's all done," smiled Amber. "All you have to do is view the photos you like, and swipe left if it's a no, swipe right if it's a yes. That's it."

"What do you mean that's it? Don't we speak?"

"Well, yes. Eventually. I mean, just give it a try. If someone swipes right for you, too, then you can connect on the site and find somewhere to meet."

"I really don't like this idea," said Shelby.

"It's just for three months."

Shelby wished she would have listened to her inner voice. This was not something that she wanted to do. Online dating? She cringed as she said the word in her head. Why can't people meet the old-fashioned way? Why can't you just bump into a guy and bam! It's magic.

She was so nervous she could feel the sweat rolling down her back. It was nearly ninety degrees outside, and even though she was seated in the shade of the umbrella, there was no breeze to ease her discomfort.

The first date since her divorce more than four years ago, she was more nervous than on her wedding night. Dating at her age seemed insurmountable until Amber showed her how to use the hottest new dating app.

Not exactly the most talented when it came to technology, she allowed Amber to set up her profile and bought the three-month plan, hoping to be off the app long before it was done. It didn't seem to take long. She swiped right for men she found interesting and attractive, and they did the same, creating a match.

A few were a bit creepy, some not exactly her type, but when she'd met Josh327, she felt an instant connection and attraction. With a high-paying job for one of the major hotel chains, she was a successful woman who didn't need a man in her life, but she wanted one. She wanted a companion, someone to attend concerts and movies. She just didn't want to go through all the trouble of actually finding the date.

Hopefully, Josh327 would be her man.

She looked at her watch again. Not looking good. He was already twenty minutes late. Crazy about being prompt, she was starting to feel that this wasn't going to end well. Finishing her coffee, the waitress came around again.

"Would you like another, hun?" she asked.

"Iced, this time," she smiled. "This heat is unbearable." The waitress smiled, nodded at her, and returned with a large, iced coffee. Sipping it slowly, she stared at her phone, hoping to get a message of some sort.

Another twenty minutes passed, and she knew. Josh327 wasn't coming. Standing, she straightened her skirt and blouse, pulling her purse over her shoulder. She left a generous tip for the waitress and walked out into the blistering sun.

"It's alright. Being alone isn't always lonely."

It would be four more experiences exactly like this one. Four. She'd show up in the public place waiting on Gary876, Hungry131, 1955Tom2, and the real risk, 69forme69foryou. Shelby hadn't understood the name when she swiped right, then quickly discovered what the man actually wanted.

But none of them showed up in person when she had. Looking down at her cell phone, she saw the name of her banking institution pop up.

"Hello," she said softly.

"Is this Shelby Zevers?"

"Yes, it is."

"Ms. Zevers, I'm with First Colonial of New Orleans in the fraud division."

"Fraud division?"

"Yes, ma'am. We've noticed some suspicious activity on your account, and I've done a cursory check of your credit history. The dating site that you're currently enrolled in had a data breach, and we believe that's where this started. Are you aware that three purchases were made this morning at Nordstrom on Canal for more than seven hundred dollars each using your debit card?"

"Wh-what? No. No, that's not possible. I have my card in my purse," she said, opening her wallet. Sure enough, the card was right where she'd left it.

"It's alright, ma'am. We're going to report these charges as fraudulent, and we'll turn off the card you have and send a replacement immediately."

"I can't believe this," she said, shaking in her seat.

"Ma'am, there were also two other accounts opened with major credit card holders, as well as a loan applied for this morning here at our bank. The amount was for seventy-five thousand dollars."

"I think I'm going to be sick," she whispered. "I'm coming down there."

"You don't have to, ma'am. We can take care of everything over the phone. We know how upsetting this is. I would suggest that you take a look at all of your credit cards, any other banking institutions you do business with, as well as double-check your social security number for any suspicious activity."

"I need to speak to you in person. I'll be there in thirty minutes." Shelby grabbed her purse, leaving her office as quickly as she could. When she reached the door of the lobby, Amber was laughing with another woman.

"Hey! Shelby, where are you going?" she asked.

"To fix a fucking mess that you made!"