Have We Met?: A Novel

by Camille Baker

Genres: Literary Fiction; Young Adult; Romance

Synopsis

What if you already met the soul mate you were destined to be with? And you didn't even know it?

After losing her best friend to cancer, Corinne's life is in flux. She has moved back to Chicago, is considering her next career move (or temp job), and has absolutely no time to look for love—until a mysterious dating app called Met suddenly appears on her phone, and with it, an invitation for Corinne to reconnect with four missed connections from her past. One of them, Met says, is her soul mate...

Corinne doesn't believe the app for a second, but when she very quickly finds herself with back-to-back blasts from the past, she'll have to consider if maybe she's wrong about it. The thing is, Corinne's also been introduced to a really great guy outside the app's influence. As their feelings for each other grow, Corinne has to wonder: With her apparent true love still out there, should she tap yes to the next match?

With help from a new group of friends, her loving if annoying family, and maybe a touch of fate, can Corinne come to terms with the loss she's still reeling from, take control of her career, and find love along the way?

Release date: July 1, 2021

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Print pages: 264

Sample

The phone rings in my ear.
“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” I mutter.
The three-stall restroom smells slightly of bleach under the potent tropical scent puffing out of the wall-mounted air freshener. I stand in front of the double sink, checking out the basket of toiletries. One of the stalls is occupied, but I can’t worry about being overheard right now. In the past, I was able to use sign language to communicate covertly with Joelle. I could still video call Lito, but I don’t think he would be helpful for this type of advice.
Tiwanda picks up on the third ring.
“How was it?” she asks right off the bat. The audio quality is like listening to someone talk on an airplane. I put the volume up as high as possible.
“It’s still going. Maybe. Quick question: Should I sleep with him?”
“Yes!” says an emphatic voice that’s not Tiwanda and very much Elise. I chose to call Tiwanda because out of the two of them, she would give the soundest advice. Now I have a demon on one shoulder and an angel on the other. Jury is out on who gets which role.
“You’re on speaker in my car,” Tiwanda belatedly explains. “Is he nice?”
“He’s nice to everyone.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” Elise says.
“You think he’s the one Met sent for you? Your soul mate?” Tiwanda asks. I don’t have the time or wherewithal to argue the legitimacy of Met right now. It’s beginning to feel futile to resist.
“I dunno. But a test drive could help. Ew, sorry. I take that back.”
Tiwanda and Elise cackle. To my right, a toilet flushes, and the stall door jostles open. The woman shoots me a conspiratorial look as she gets a pump of hand sanitizer in lieu of washing her hands. I’d normally judge, but I’m happy to continue my call in private.
“As long as you think it’ll be fun, go for it,” Elise says. “I’ll show you his portfolio when we get to Tee’s. High school ex is hot. Might be your type, Cory.”
I start to point out Anthony being a strong match is the reason for this conversation when a curt, baritone voice speaks from what must be the back seat of Tiwanda’s car.
“Doubt it,” Cory says, emotionless.
I freeze. My brain is too foggy to rapidly process why learning that Cory is listening to this conversation has me flustered. For some reason, I don’t think it’s shyness about my sex life.
“I gotta go,” I say.
“Wait!” Elise shouts. “What are you going to do?”
I groan as I occupy my hands, taking an oil-blot paper from the basket and pressing it along my T-zone. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll figure it out once I get there.”
“Let’s have a vote. Who thinks Cori the Second should get laid tonight?” Elise asks.
“I don’t approve of this name.” I shake my head at my reflection in the mirror.
Elise ignores me and continues. “I’ll start. A definitive yes. Cory the First?”
I swear I can hear his sigh through the car’s Bluetooth. “If she’s considering a vote, she shouldn’t be with him anyway.”
“All you had to say was no,” Elise says. I can imagine her turning around to shoot him a playful glare. “All right, Tee. You’re the tiebreaker.”
“I agree with Cory. Ultimately it’s your decision—you know that. But for what it’s worth, I vote yes.”