“Pets okay? Is there a world where pets aren’t okay? Are you looking for a sublet? You don’t need to put information like this.” He beams a huge smile at me. “Especially if you just want to hookup.”
“I don’t want to just hookup, though,” I said, defending my word choice. “I want a relationship. After a date.” I saiddatewith much emphasis, hoping to just stop talking with Jae about sex. I want a date, right? But the more I look at Jae the more I want more than a date.
Jae cackled again. “You’re using a hookup app, you know that, right?”
“I want sober sex. Stone cold sober.” I retorted. “I thought you had to be drunk to have a hookup.”I was the one doing all the mentioning of sex.
“Stone cold sober sex. You’re definitely an ax murderer.” Jae looks me in the eye. “You don’t have to be drunk to hook up, you freak.” He gives me a big, playful smile and I can’t help but find myself smiling back.
“I don’t care what a hookup is.” I reached for my phone, but Jae yanks it out of reach by standing up from the bench. “I just…want a date,”
“Let’s see here.” He chuckled under his breath and typed something. “Try this.” He handed me my phone back with a smug smile. He’d added the new photos of me painting the mural and in the park and updated my bio to read:
Let me draw you for dinner. Looking for a new muse and casual fun. Likes dogs, furnished apartments, beds with headboards and sushi.
“Is this really better?” I asked.
“See for yourself.” I settled back on the bench staring at my new profile. I thumbed through a few profiles. Left, left, left, left. Maybe it would take a while to get a new cohort of men.
“Give that back to me,” he said, with his mouth full. “How did you not haveanymatches?”
He swiped left on a few more guys. “What about this one?”
“I don’t swipe right on anyone,” I answer. It’s true. I’m extremely picky after the exchange with Derek.
Jae’s face twists into a messed-up smile. It’s obvious I don’t swipe on anyone.I wonder why.
“What about this guy?” Jae holds the phone in front of my face.
Ethan, 26. Will be your personal chef if you hold my hand. My mom thinks I’mhandsome.
“He seems…okay.” I mull it over. He is kind of handsome. He doesn’t have anything on Jae, but he isn’t ugly. He has kind eyes. “I don’t know though; I don’t want to owe him anything if he cooks for me.”
“I’ll swipe for you, but I won’t hold his hand for you, Riley.” Jae looks up at me. “Just try one time, Riley. Then we’ll know what to work on for your practice date,” It sounds like a question.
“Fine, I'll swipe on him.” I snatch the phone and swipe right.
IT’S A MATCH!
Jae stretches his arms and back, his eyes catching the late winter sunlight streaming through the window. His skin glows in the golden light. My eyes linger on his face a second too long and his eyes catch mine again.
“That’s enough, I think,” He purses his lips and motions toward the door. “Get outta here, you sex fiend. Go take a break.” He’s clearly teasing me, and the fact is, I probably look to have the sex appeal of a nun.
I scurry towards the door, eager to lose myself in a takeaway lunch. I wave goodbye and before Jae can get another word out, I yank the door open, and burst outside into the warm afternoon sun.
Later that night, I have to psych myself up to message Ethan, who still has not messaged me. I look at my rumpled self in the mirror. My red hair is tangled in the worst way, my green eyes look sullen, and my dark circles are darker than they’ve ever been. It’s the same look I’ve rocked for the last three years. I decide I’ll get my act together tomorrow, just like I’ve also said every day for the last three years.
You can do this. Come on. Just do it.
Hey there.
Ding.That was fast. Maybe all men really are this fast at texting back.
Hey there, you. How are you doing tonight?
I’m doing well. What are you up to?
Just watching some Netflix. I think you’re really pretty btw, that’s why I swiped on you…
