Biannca:Um. Is that typical? I’ve never done something like this before so I’m not really sure the protocol in a situation like this.
E.J.:I’ll be honest, I haven’t really done it myself. But it’s whatever you’d prefer. I want to ensure you’re comfortable in this.
Nerves make me gnaw the corner of my lip again. It’s going to be raw by the time I get home later if I keep this up.
But if we don’t meet, how will we get to know each other? Do we need to? It’s just one date, one night. A few hours max.
E.J.:We could get to know each other through message if that makes you more comfortable.
It’s like he’s reading my mind. And being willing to communicate mostly through message is speaking my love language. There’s a reason I prefer to surround myself with books as opposed to people.
Biannca: If you’re okay with that, I think that’s the route I’d prefer to go. We can coordinate with outfits or something.
E.J.:Tell you what, you wear a red flower in your hair, and I’ll bring a red rose.
My cheeks flame at the thought. A rose? For me? I’m not sure anyone has ever brought me flowers, except my dad for my birthday or a dance recital when I was little. Is this what dating is supposed to be like?
Good grief, have I been missing out all this time? Though, I can’t really say it’s been that much. It’s been a minute since I’vebeen on a date so maybe this shouldn’t surprise me as much as it does.
E.J.:We can do something else if you don’t want to do that. It was just an idea.
So lost in my haze of self deprecation about my former dating life, I didn’t even answer EJ. I wouldn’t be surprised if he changed his mind the day of the event because I’m sure he’ll think I’m insane by the time the date actually gets here.
Biannca:Sorry, no, that sounds perfect. Um, I should get back to work. Talk soon.
Before I even get a response, I lock my phone, toss it in my desk drawer and walk far, far away.
Chapter 4
Ethan
Only talking to Biannca through the app and messaging isn’t necessarily my greatest idea. But it also isn’t the worst. This way we can get to know each other a little, on a more personal level and what makes the other tick, before meeting in person.
There’s an extremely high chance that doing things this way,knowingthat Biannca is the one I matched with and not saying a damn thing about it, will blow up in my face. Spectacularly. But the pieces just kind of fell into place this way.
Okay, maybe I somewhat strategically laid them this way, but it just as easily could have gone differently.
Regardless, this feels like it’s a much lower pressure way to learn more.
The buzzing of my phone has me swiping before I look to see who it is. “Hello?”
“Tell me you’re going.” There’s a sharp edge to the feminine voice that grates on every nerve in my body.
Leaning back in my chair, I groan and pinch the bridge of nose. There’s no use. It won’t stave off a headache or provide any relief from what this conversation is about to be.
“You know I’m not.”
“Ethan.”
“Jennifer.” She practically screams and I pull the phone from my ear for a moment while my sister acts in dramatic fashion. As always.
“What is wrong with you? Why can’t you ever just come to these events? You know how much it would mean to her.” The guilt she’s trying to lay on me used to work. Key word,usedto.
“In what universe would I want to come to one of her parties just to be paraded around for all the eligible ladies who just happen to be daughters of her friends. While there’s barely another guy around. Oh, and all those women are single.” The first few times, I took it as an honest mistake. Then I wised up and realized my mother was putting all of her effort into trying to set me up. Under the hoax of a party.
A sigh comes through the phone that almost makes me feel bad. “You know she just wants you to find someone and be happy before she dies.”
“First of all, she has you and you’ve already made that life dream for her by having the huge wedding and the four kids. Second of all, she’s fifty four and fit as a horse. She’s not dying anytime soon.”
