Love at First Swipe
A Contemporary Romance
Chapter 1: A Match That Shouldn’t Have Happened
Harper didn’t believe in online dating.
She only made the profile because her best friend Emily forced her to.
“Just one week,” Emily had said. “If you hate it, you can delete it.”
Harper had fully intended to delete it.
Until she saw his profile.
Lucas Reed.
Tall. Scruffy. A book in one hand, a coffee in the other.
His bio?
"Fluent in sarcasm, bad at small talk, great at making pancakes."
She hesitated for ten seconds before swiping right.
And when her phone buzzed with a match notification—
Her heart skipped a beat.
Chapter 2: The Wrong First Impression
Their first date was… a disaster.
Harper arrived ten minutes early. Lucas showed up twenty minutes late.
She ordered tea. He ordered whiskey.
The conversation was awkward.
And yet—
When the date ended, Lucas grinned at her.
“That was terrible,” he admitted.
Harper laughed. “Absolutely awful.”
Then, before she could stop herself—
She smirked. “Same time next week?”
Lucas’s eyes lit up.
“You’re on.”
Chapter 3: The Unexpected Spark
The second date was better.
The third date? Even better.
By the fifth, Harper realized—
She was in serious trouble.
Because she liked him.
Really liked him.
Lucas made her laugh when she wanted to be serious.
He challenged her in ways no one else ever had.
And when he looked at her—
It felt like he saw all of her.
The good. The bad. The parts she kept hidden.
And still—he stayed.
Chapter 4: When Feelings Get Complicated
One night, as they walked home from dinner, Lucas grabbed her hand.
Harper’s heart raced.
“This thing between us,” he said softly. “It’s real, right?”
She swallowed.
Because, suddenly—
That scared her.
Real meant vulnerability.
Real meant risk.
But before she could overthink it, Lucas squeezed her fingers.
“I’m all in, Harper.”
And just like that—
She realized she was too.
Chapter 5: More Than an Algorithm
Months passed.
They made pancakes on Sunday mornings.
They stayed up late arguing about books.
They fell in love.
And one night, as they lay tangled on the couch, Lucas smirked.
“Admit it,” he whispered.
Harper raised a brow. “Admit what?”
“That Emily was right. The app worked.”
She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
“Fine,” she admitted. “But only because I swiped first.”
Lucas grinned.
“Best swipe of my life.”
And Harper?
She had to agree.
Because love isn’t always about fate.
Sometimes, it’s just about taking a chance.