Pretending not to recognize him was the easy part.
"Do you know me?" I asked innocently, plastering on my best nonchalant smile.
Joshua Hudgens, standing there in all his model-perfect glory, tilted his head, his sharp jawline catching the light like a beacon of trouble.
"Not really," he said, his voice smooth and casual. "But I saw you this morning at Chic Avenue. I overheard your little... skirmish. You're Ariana, right? Arisa's niece."
Right. I'd introduced myself to Erica as Ariana—my younger, fictional alter ego. My impromptu invention was already causing complications.
I forced a tight smile. "I guess you saw that," I said, trying to sound unbothered.
"It's just... rare," he continued, leaning in slightly. "Seeing Arisa take a day off, I mean."
His words hit like a dart to my conscience. Arisa—me—never took a day off. Not when I was buried under work, not when I was sick, not even when my heart felt like it was in pieces.
It was a warning sign that I needed to steer clear of Joshua. If he got too close, my cover would be blown, and I'd have to explain why Arisa, the workaholic, was suddenly gallivanting around as her supposed twenty-something niece.
"Well," I said, backing toward an empty seat. "If you'll excuse me—"
But Joshua wasn't letting me go that easily.
"Would you like to join me?" he asked, flashing a smile so disarming it should've come with a warning label.
I froze. "What?"
I stared at Joshua, his easy smile tugging at the edges of my resolve. He looked completely at ease, leaning casually against the café counter as though he owned the place—or maybe the universe.
Meanwhile, my brain was spiraling into overdrive, scrambling to decide whether to take him up on his offer or make up an excuse to bolt.
"Coffee's on me," he repeated, raising a hand as if swearing an oath. "And I promise not to ask anything that might breach the sacred niece-aunt confidentiality pact."
Before I could respond, my phone betrayed me.
SCAL Notification: "Potential Blind Date Detected."
My stomach dropped. Joshua? A blind date? This had to be a mistake.
I ignored the alert, but SCAL wasn't done with me yet.
SCAL Notification: "Joshua Hudgens added to Date Profile List."
Unbelievable. This app was going rogue.
"Is everything okay?" Joshua's voice cut through my panic, his brows furrowed with concern.
"Oh, yeah. Just spam messages," I said, waving my phone dismissively. "You know how persistent they can be."
He chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Yeah, those things are annoying. You should block them."
If only it were that simple. I muttered under my breath, "If only I could…"
"What's that?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Nothing!" I said quickly, too quickly, as I forced a laugh that didn't quite land.
Joshua raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my awkwardness but polite enough not to press further. "So, about that coffee? It's just coffee, no strings attached," he added with a smile.
My mind whirled with conflicting thoughts. Should I? Could I?
Joshua was the golden boy of my company's campaigns—handsome, charming, and a hit with clients. But this wasn't Arisa talking to him. This was "Ariana," the fictional niece I'd conjured on a whim.
Still, his smile was magnetic, and against my better judgment, I found myself nodding.
"Alright. But just coffee," I said, wagging a finger at him like I was laying down ground rules.
His grin widened, lighting up his entire face. "Just coffee," he agreed, leading me to a small table by the window.
As he headed to the counter to order, I pulled out my phone, glaring at the SCAL app like it was some kind of mischievous AI Cupid.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I hissed at the screen.
SCAL Notification: "The Blind Date feature remains active. Based on historical data, interaction with Joshua Hudgens may lead to a meaningful connection."
I groaned. Meaningful connection? This wasn't a rom-com. This was real life—or at least as real as it could get when you were masquerading as a 20-years-younger version of yourself.
Joshua returned moments later, sliding a cup in front of me with a flourish. "Americano. One sugar, no cream. Thought you might be a purist like Arisa."
I blinked at him. "Lucky guess?"
"Not really. I've seen her order the same thing a hundred times. Figured it might run in the family."
I laughed nervously, brushing off his comment. "What can I say? We're creatures of habit."
He settled into his chair, stirring his coffee. "So, Ariana, what brings you to the city? Career? Family? A secret mission from your aunt to keep an eye on things?"
I nearly choked on my coffee. "Oh, nothing so dramatic. Just… exploring my options," I said vaguely, hoping the conversation would steer elsewhere.
Joshua tilted his head, studying me like I was a puzzle he couldn't quite figure out. "You're a lot like her, you know. Sharp, quick on your feet. But there's something different about you—can't quite put my finger on it."
My pulse quickened. Was he starting to suspect something?
"Well, we're family. I guess some traits just run in the blood," I said lightly, forcing a smile.
He nodded, thankfully letting the subject drop. The conversation shifted to safer topics—favorite coffee blends, awkward workplace moments, and hidden city gems. For a brief moment, I let myself relax, enjoying the ease of talking to him.
Then, my SCAL app decided to stir the pot again.
SCAL Notification: "Conversation Chemistry Detected. Flirtation Potential High."
I nearly spat out my coffee. This app needed to chill.
Joshua leaned forward, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "You're really something, you know that?"
I blinked. "Something… good?"
"Absolutely. You're genuine. It's refreshing."
The compliment caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless. Was he for real?
As we finished our drinks, Joshua leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "This was nice. We should do it again sometime."
I hesitated, every excuse I could think of running through my mind. But before I could voice any of them, he added, "No pressure. Just think about it."
With a casual wave, he walked off, leaving me sitting there with a head full of conflicting thoughts. But not before saying, "Thanks for the coffee. Let me know if you're up for dinner sometime."
I smiled as I contemplated an answer. "Maybe next time," I replied.
Before I could process it, my phone buzzed with a new text.
SCAL Notification: "Joshua Hudgens has been added to your Priority Date List."
"Fantastic," I muttered under my breath, glaring at the screen like it had personally betrayed me.
As I climbed into my car, the SCAL app pinged again.
SCAL Notification: "Special Feature Unlock—First Impressions Boost Activated."
I stared at the screen, my stomach twisting. This app was meddling in my life in ways I hadn't even begun to comprehend.
As I set my phone down, one thought refused to leave me: What exactly had I gotten myself into?