So yeah, Single Graham is here to stay.
Chapter five
Delilah
I swirl my second glass of red wine in my hand while glancing across the bar to the acoustic guitarist playing a rendition of an old Beatles’ song.
“I’ve always found musicians hot,” Sarah muses from across the hightop we’re stationed at. “I wonder if he’s single.”
I giggle, taking a sip of wine. It’s a Friday, and two glasses in at a tiny wine bar that serves mainly boomers is about as wild as a weekend typically gets for me. And before Sarah, my weekends were even less eventful.
We met about a year ago. She’s a barista at one of my favorite coffee shops. After spending an inordinate amount of time there, writing away on my laptop in the corner, she’d eventually asked if I was a novelist, leading to a conversation about my job, then her job, then our interests, and well, we just hit it off.
Most of my other friends left Cedar Ridge after high school, and while I keep in touch and see them when they’re back intown visiting, the last few years have felt a bit lonely. Until Sarah showed up. It helps that she’s my opposite in almost every way—outgoing, brave, adventurous. She pulls me out of my shell, and I know I need it.
“Talk to him after the set,” I say.
Sarah shoots me a look. “You say that like it’s easy. Wouldyoudo that?”
I make a face. “You know I’m shy. You’re not.”
She smirks and takes a sip. “Besides, you’re the one who needs to get out there. Didn’t you say earlier you want to start dating?”
I grimace. “When you say it like that, it sounds like I’ve never dated.”
Sarah raises an eyebrow.
“And Ihave!” I clarify. “I had a boyfriend in high school. For a few months. And I’ve been ondates, they just never went anywhere.”
“When was the last time you went on a date?” Sarah inquires.
I scrunch my face in thought. Shit. Wow, okay. “Uh, over a year ago now, I guess.”
“That’s tragic, Delilah.”
“This is why I need your help setting up my profile,” I say, taking out my phone and spinning it in her direction. I’ve made a Tinder account but haven’t actually activated my profile yet.
Sarah’s face sets in a look of determination as she takes my phone in her hands, scrolling through the photos I’ve selected. “I’m gonna rearrange these,” she says.
I just nod.
“What’s got you interested in dating all of a sudden?” she asks, eyes still glued to my screen.
My face reddens ever so slightly. Sarah knows my history—or rather, lack thereof. But it’s still embarrassing to bring up. “I, uh …”
My hesitation gets her attention, and her head snaps up.
I sigh. “I want to lose my virginity.”
Sarah’s eyes widen, and she grins in surprise. “Wow. No, ‘hey, how are you?’ first?”
I snort. “Okay, obviously, I’d like to get to know this person …”
Sarah nods. “So you’re not exactly looking for a boyfriend?”
“Not necessarily.”
“Huh.” She bobs her head again. “This seems … unlike you,” she comments.
