“I guess I’ll follow your lead. My full name is Khiya Elizabeth Reid. I won’t be thirty-four until November 19th. My parents have been married for thirty-eight years, and they aren’t retired yet. I’m from Waukegan, but I live in Gurnee, and I’m single.”
“You’re damn near in Wisconsin.”
“I’m about twenty minutes from the border. You ever been?”
“I went to Six Flags a few times in my teen years, but I’ve never had another reason to visit until now.”
“You’re very presumptuous.”
“Nah. I’m very honest.”
“Since you’re so honest, tell me why you aren’t married.”
“That’s easy. I haven’t found anyone worthy enough to be my wife.”
“Why do you think that is?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea. I date, like most single men, but none of the women I’ve dated have panned out.”
“Have you ever thought that maybe it’s you and not them?”
“Actually, I have. Seventy-five percent of it is me. My career can be a lot for someone who doesn’t understand. I guess I didn’t have strong enough feelings for anyone to make any changes.”
“You guess you didn’t?” she questioned with raised brows.
“I didn’t.”
“At least you’re honest about it. I appreciate that.”
“I told you I was honest.”
“How long was your longest relationship?”
“A little over a year.”
“How long ago was that?”
“A few years after I graduated from college. I think I loved her, and she said she loved me, but shehatedthat I was gone so much. We tried but couldn’t make it work.”
“Wow. That’s kinda sad. Do you feel like you missed out on your one true love?”
I thought about her question for a moment before responding.
“No. So far, flying is my one true love. I haven’t been with a woman who makes me feel as good as flying makes me feel.”
“Wow. That’s kinda deep.”
“Possibly. What about you? Why are you single?”
The server arrived with our food, and Khiya waited until we’d been served to answer my question.
“My ex broke up with me about two and a half years ago, and I’ve been single since.”
“How long were you with him?”
“Two years. I thought he was my husband, but apparently, he didn’t think I was his wife.”
“Life has a way of working things out in our favor. A few years after my ex ended things with me, I found out she was still dealing with her ex, who had cheated on her. They got married and had a few kids, but I heard he never stopped messing around with the woman he cheated with, and he has another family on the other side of town.”
