Virtually Yours Anthology

Virtually Yours

 

Virtual Match is your one-stop shop to convincing those nosy relatives, the too friendly coworker, or your ex that you’re off the market. We’ll match you up with an attentive boyfriend or girlfriend. Texts, emails, phone calls, and even gifts. A virtual love life is all the fun of being in a relationship–well, almost all the fun–and none of the commitment. Our matches know how to stay discreet and convincing. You might even forget it’s not real. Log on to Virtual Match and meet the match of your dreams who doesn’t mind staying just a fantasy.

 

Lip Service by Wendy Sparrow

 

He’s never wanted anything as much as he wants his neighbor, Roxie Edmonds, but amputee Berg Cyrano didn’t exactly return from military service in one piece. Now, he’s convinced her to try this virtual relationship service to get a stalker off her back, not mentioning that he’s “Chris”…along with his old buddy named Chris. Roxie has thrown her heart into winning over her sexy but standoffish neighbor, but the emails and texts from her virtual boyfriend are muddying things.

Does she have feelings for someone who might not even exist?

How creepy is that to be crushing on a computer?

On a scale of one to…oh, for the love of everything good in the world, why can’t Berg just adore her already?

He wants her. She wants him. And the truth might break up their actual and virtual relationships. In a modern-day retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, find out what happens when the boy next door tries to get the perfect girl by being real while pretending to be someone fake—who is masquerading as someone real. It’ll leave you wondering, “What really happened with the two chickens?”

 

Excerpt:

 

From: Roxie <Roxie@netwave.js>

Sent: Monday, October 5, 2015 9:17 AM

To: Chris@Synergy.ca.usa

Subject: RE: Just wondering how you are

I liked spending time with you too. What makes me smile? Besides you? I like romantic comedies especially when the person next to me groans and looks away during the kissing scenes. I love to jump in puddles so that the splash makes a big splat sound and everyone within ten feet gets soaked. (This doesn’t make me many friends at bus stops.) I like any kind of baby animal. Even the ugliest animal manages to look cute when it’s a baby. I love the unexpected: a package from a friend, a coworker bringing in cupcakes, the first daffodil in spring. I like thunderstorms that make my heart pound. What do you like? What makes you smile?

Roxie

 

She hit send. And drummed her fingers. And tried to get work done.

 

From: Chris Knight <Chris@Synergy.ca.usa>

Sent: Monday, October 5, 2015 9:47 AM

To: Roxie@netwave.js

Subject: RE: Just wondering how you are

Roxie,

I’ve attached a picture of a naked mole rat baby. I call that exhibit A. Though I still suspect it’ll make you smile. You make me smile. I didn’t smile very much before I met you. Sometimes my best friend could force a smile out of me but not always. I guess I’ve spent too much time seeing the darkness in life. I look for the black underbelly of every cloud. Maybe I need more unexpected things in my life. I’ve gotten into a routine. It’s hard to break out of it. Maybe I just need cupcakes too. Sadly I don’t think anyone is going to bring me some. I should let you get some work done today. Email me later.

Chris

Limited Release – No longer available, but Lip Service will eventually be available on its own!

 

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