I’m not a dating app kind of guy, either. I like dating the way I like my whiskey–old fashioned.
The bartender sets my drink in front of me, and I take a slow sip, relishing the flavor. I enjoy the Angostura bitters, thebarrel-aged bourbon, the tang of the orange peel, and the slight sweetness of the simple syrup.
I suck my teeth with contentment. It was a good dinner. I haven’t seen my son that happy in ages.
Out of my two kids, he’s the one I was a little worried about.
Madison is still single, but she’s also a stubborn career woman. She’s an ER nurse with direction and drive.
I know Allie would be proud of her. I like to think she would be proud of the way both our kids turned out, even if it has taken our son a little longer to settle down. That’s something I could never blame him for, not without being hypocritical.
My phone buzzes, and Madison’s name pops up.
Gavin: Are your ears ringing?
Madison: Why? Are you talking about me?
Gavin: No, I’m alone. But I was thinking about you.
Madison: Fair enough.
Madison: So? How was dinner?
Gavin: Exceptional. Your brother found a great girl.
Madison: I knew you’d like her.
Gavin: Wish you could have come. We missed you.
Madison: So do I. But compound fractures wait for no one.
Gavin: That’s my girl.
Madison: Always. Drink a beer for me.
Gavin: Will do.
Madison: Just not an IPA.
Gavin: LOL. Noted.
I set my phone down and pick up my cocktail, letting my eyes sweep over the room. The energy in here is great; it’s warm and vibrant inside these walls. Outside, snow and ice cover everything, but the January blues can’t put a damper on the nightlife in here. I love that about Denver.
But something about tonight feels different. I don’t think it has anything to do with my son’s new engagement. I am excited about it though, and it’s at the forefront of my priorities.
I can’t stop thinking about the girl from the other night.
It’s been a couple of weeks.
Something about her left a taste in my mouth that I don’t want to replace with anything else.
I’ve been on a lot of dates and spent a lot of time with beautiful women in flirtatious conversation. Often leading to more.
But I can’t get Charlotte off my mind.
She is so different from anyone else I’ve ever met. She’s the opposite of what usually catches my eye.
That’s not to say she wasn’t attractive. She is a bombshell. I’m usually attracted to women who are a little more extroverted, a little more forward. But she was a mystery from the start, a puzzle to be solved, like a little blonde Rubik’s Cube. Oddly enough, it was a massive turn-on. Every time I thought I had her figured out, she stumped me again. It was a challenge, and I do love a challenge.
