Elliot sat at his desk, post-workout soreness settling into his shoulders, the familiar comfort of routine humming around him, shaker bottle on the right, open laptop on the left, coding window still unfinished in the background. But his attention was elsewhere.

Bumble.

He didn’t like the app. Never had. It felt like a lottery of smiling strangers, each profile trying too hard in the same way: “love to travel,” “fluent in sarcasm,” “just here for a good time.” He swiped left mechanically, not even bothering to read much.

Until her profile stopped him.