01: Blind Date

CHRISTY:

To say I was excited was an understatement. For the nth time, I'm going to meet my date whom I met at Swiped,  an online dating app. 

Others might call me cheap for that, but I did not care. Poppy Brooks, my best friend, had been married for the second time to her billionaire husband, and I believed it was the perfect time for me to settle down.

Not the billionaire thingy, but the married part. 

But...why did men seem elusive? I had met different kinds of men and the last one was Pedro. I thought he was the perfect partner for me, but it turned out he was two-timing me with another woman whom I did not know. 

I lifted my chin while pressing my lips for the fourth time. 

Is my lipstick not smudge? Am I beautiful? Will my date not run away upon seeing me?

What if Rett preferred tall and skinny women? I was not that skinny, but voluptuous.  Though I appreciated my body. 

A lot. 

"You have to get serious, Christy. Date serious men who don't only after your body and sex. Get married," I remembered Poppy said for the nth time. 

She was always not up for casual sex, but how could she blame me if I kept on finding the wrong man? I thought they were the only one. The one whom I was going to marry, but no. 

"Do you want me to suggest men for you?" Sebastian asked Poppy's husband. He was a billionaire whom my best friend loved. I was happy for both of them, but sometimes I got jealous seeing how in love and happy they were with Kelly, their five-year-old daughter. 

I politely declined Sebatsian's offer, though I was tempted to accept it. 

But no. I believed in myself that I would find a man perfect for me and this time, wouldn't hurt me and would only want sex. 

For the last time, I decided to try again.

I registered an account in Swiped, opened and around, and put the details—not interested in casual sex,  wanted a serious relationship. A big heart was a plus. 

I'm not getting any younger. Been running away for quite some time and if given the chance to go back to my parents, I would love to. 

"Will they forgive you for what you did?" the other part of my mind asked.  

I did not know. Not only was I running from someone but also my parents too. 

What I did five years ago was unforgivable.  And Poppy did not know anything about those details. I was scared that she would judge me for that. However, she was not like that. She would understand for sure, but I would still receive an earful. 

My phone rang and not wanting the caller to wait for me, I fished it out from my bag and answered the call.

"Where are you?" 

My heart melted upon hearing my date's voice. It was manly and could make anyone fall for him just his voice alone. 

I sucked in a breath as I struggled to contain the shriek coming from my mouth. 

"I'm...already here," I whispered. 

Rett had the power to make my knees buckle and I wondered what more he could do to my body when we finally met face to face. 

"Good. I'm already inside... I'll be waiting, Tina."

I nodded even if he could not see me. "Y-yeah. M-me too," and to my nervousness ended the call without saying goodbye. 

I inhaled deeply. Focus, Christy. Why are you acting like this is your first time with a blind date? You've dated lots of men. Meeting Rett should be easy as pie!

I lifted my gaze and stared at the restaurant in front of me after parking my car. 

I was already five minutes late, but I already informed my date about it. 

He said it was no big deal. 

Rett. 

We had never video-called each other.  Only through call

 And none of us had asked for someone's face and I liked it more than that. Before, men would always go for my body, but since I was now looking for someone to marry, I wanted it to be different. I will date to marry. That's the goal. There was no way I would die without marrying someone else. I want to have lots of children. Cute little children. 

The security guard of the restaurant greeted me, returned the greeting to him, and entered the restaurant.

My phone beeped. Perhaps it was Rett. 

Now. Where was Rett? He said he would be wearing a blue sweater with an anime character on the back and brown khaki pants. He said that it was better so that I could easily spot him. 

My phone beeped again. 

"Where are you now, Tina?" I read his message. 

Tina. 

I liked how he called me that.

I typed as fast as my fingers could hit the press button and pocketed my phone. 

"Coming."

Now, where was my date?

After three months of messaging each other with no exchanges of social media accounts, Rett and I finally agreed to meet. Which was not the usual thing I do. I usually meet my date three days after clicking and now...with Rett, it has been three months.

I hoped the long wait was worth it. 

My mouth smiled upon seeing a boy with his back turned to me. Rett. Even his back was sexy.

Excitement rushed through me, checked myself in the glass door and when I was already done, sauntered towards the man.

Finally, we will be going to see each other. And I'm going to kiss him and get laid—

I shook my head. 

I was going to be wholesome now. No more sex before marriage. If we will be fucking, that will be right after marriage. And I will stick to it no matter what.

I finally reached him and was standing at his back.

Damn. 

His hair was chestnut brown and was so soft. I wanted to brush it using my fingers.

Rett still did not notice my presence. He was scanning his phone. Glancing at it, he was reading an online newspaper. About some sort of business? 

Wow. 

He was really smart. From how he responded to my text messages, I could feel that he was one. 

I wonder what kind of man he was. Was he a gentleman? Was he good in bed?

I'm so totally in love with him! I wanted him right here and now! And if he ever offered marriage, I would definitely say yes!

Rett was the only one for me. Period. I will make sure that he asks me to be his girlfriend after this meeting. 

I mentally shook my head. That was not something I should have been thinking about on the first day of our date. 

Putting some strands of hair on the corner of my ear, I tapped his shoulder.

"Rett," I called. "Did you wait for me that long? I'm so sorry for—"

It was like the whole world paused for a moment when he faced me. But instead of happiness, it felt like someone punched me in my gut. 

Both of us were surprised to see each other. "Christina Ross?"

"Everett Watson?"

My knees nearly give out. Excitement was gone and the last thing I wanted to do right now was to escape from Everett. 

"Christy. It's been a long time. Where have you been, my runaway bride?"

Wait. Wait. My blind date was my billionaire jilted groom?