Break Away

by Robin Edwards

  “Yeah, right. You are almost as good as me. What started your confidence engine? Oh, wait. Don’t tell me. It must be your internet relationship.” Patrick teased.

  “Relationship is right!” I shouted with enthusiasm. So much show it startled our receptionist.

  “How’s it going with her anyway?” Patrick asked.

  “It’s been an amazing experience. I have no regrets with making the decision to email her.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Well, what do you think would have happened if I approached her at the café’ weeks ago? I probably would have had a fifty percent chance at getting her number and scoring a date with her but with these emails, I had a 100% success rate.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense. By emailing her, it didn’t improve your odds of it working out in your favor. If you really think about it, it was a creepier tactic. She said it herself. Though I will admit, despite having less odds, it actually worked out in your favorite.”

  “That it did.” I said smugly.

  “So have you asked her to meet yet?”

  “I haven’t even broached the subject. I have been having a great time getting to know her.”

  “Sean, do you even want to meet the girl?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “As long as you keep it on email, you are never going to meet her. In fact, the longer you keep it through email, the higher the expectations she’s going to develop of you. Which will only hurt your odds of being what she pictured. If you ask me, the longer you email her the more you are setting yourself up to fail.”

  “Maybe you’re right and maybe you’re wrong but like I said many times before. I believe this is fate. I have full confidence this will work out in the end.”

  “Alright, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  ****

  BRIDGETTE

  IT WAS A THURSDAY MORNING and it had been a long and crazy week. The company was on a time crunch getting our clients set up for their promotional campaigns, which meant a lot of overtime and stress. I was in the middle compiling data for a consumer analytic report for one of our clients, when Beth walked up carrying a vase full of lilies and placed them on my desk.

  “This is for you.”

  “From who?” I eyed the flowers suspiciously.

  “From your secret admirer.” Beth joked. After Beth saw the panicked expression on my face, she confessed who the real culprit was. “It’s actually from me. I just wanted to give you a small token of thanks for everything you’ve done for me.”

  “Oh. Well, thank you Beth. They’re really beautiful.”

  “Bridgette, you looked horrified for a second. Does the concept of having a secret admirer freak you out?”

  “It did at first but I’ve got to tell you something. I kind of have one.” I whispered.

  “Really, Bridgette?”

  “Yeah, we’ve been exchanging emails for weeks.” I smiled tentatively.

  “Oh my God, that’s so exciting! What have you two been emailing each other about?” Beth gushed, wide eyed with enthusiasm.

  “Just little things about ourselves.”

  “Are you two going to meet?” Beth asked.

  “Oh God, no. Not yet, if ever. Oh, I don’t know.” I said confused. I really hadn’t thought about it the entire time I’ve known him.

  Beth eyed me suspiciously and said that she had come to the conclusion that I was out of touch with reality and when it came to dating and that she really wanted me to find a real man.

  “Listen, I’m having this dinner party at my house this weekend. You should really come. There will be a lot of good looking guys there.”

  “I can’t. I don’t have anyone to watch Kyle that day. My usual babysitter is out of town visiting relatives.”

  “Don’t you remember? Kyle is going to have a sleep over with my sons,” Monica joined our conversation.

  “Since when?” I asked.

  “Since now.” Monica winked at Beth. “She’ll be there in her best dress.”

  “Great!” Beth cheered excitedly.

  “Since when did you guys start making decisions for me?”

  “Your ex-husband left years ago. Don’t you think it’s time to get out there and start dating again?” Monica asked.

  “Maybe you’re right. I’ll think about it.”

  “That’s all I’m asking.” Beth smiled.

  ****

  SEAN

  “LISTEN, I know I have been making fun of you a lot about your mystery girl, but I’m only doing it in jest.” Patrick asked as he sipped his beer.

  “I know.” I said.

  It was Friday night and the end of a long week had come to a close and I wanted to kick back and grab a beer with Patrick, who was the only person I hung out with these days. We were sitting at a table waiting for one of the pool tables to be available.

  “It’s still going great. It’s been very romantic lately. We’ve been exchanging longer letters via email. Such amazing stories we’ve been confessing to each other. I feel like we are really getting to know each other. Well, as much as one can.”

  “Kind of weird but I’m very happy for you,” Patrick said and patted me on the back.

  “I must admit, she comes across different than how she looks.”

  “How so?” Patrick asked.

  “Well, in a lot of ways I guess. Via email, she’s funny, down-to-earth and sincere. She comes across like she’s one of those people who doesn’t even realize how amazing and beautiful they are.”

  “I see. That’s weird.”

  “Yeah and wherever I go, I keep thinking I see her and then it ends up not being her.”

  Just then, B walked into the bar and passed by Patrick and I to get to the bar.

  “Oh my God, Patrick, I think I’m seeing her again.” I pointed.

  “It really is her!”

  “It’s really B? I better hide.” I said covering my face in my hands.

  “She doesn’t know what you look like, remember?” Patrick rolled his eyes as he pulled my hands away from my face.

  I got the urge to introduce myself. It was now or never, after all. I stood up, drunk chugged my pint of beer and prepared myself to approach B. She was sitting at a bar stool with the friend she had lunch with when I saw her last. They were having a good time and were laughing at an inside they joke they had between them. I started pacing.

  “What are you doing?” Patrick asked.

  “I don’t know. I really don’t know.” I started pacing more erratically.

  “Do you want to blow your cover? Why do I even ask? I know you would. Is this how you dreamt of meeting her for the first time? Think about that before you approach her.” Patrick pleased.

  “Yeah, you’re right. Maybe we should get out of here.” I panicked and instead of rushing out of there quickly, I ran right into B as she turned around in her seat. Her martini splashed all over the front of my shirt.

  “Oh my God, I am so sorry. I will pay for your dry cleaning bill, or buy you another shirt or drink…”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I stared at Beth. She was even more beautiful up close. “Tell you what, you can buy me a drink. How about coffee, tomorrow?”

  “I don’t even know you.” B smiled.

  “Well, we would get to know each other, over coffee.”

  “Tell you what, I am having a few friends over on Saturday. Stop by if you want.” B said as she scribbled on a napkin and handed it to me.

  I looked at it and she put her name, phone number and address on it. Her name was Beth Johnsen. B was for Beth and I had her number!

  “I would love to. I’m Sean, by the way. Sean Martin.”

  “See you Saturday, Sean Martin.” Beth smiled again and walked with her friend over to the pool tables.

  “I’m looking forward to it.” I muttered to myself.

  Beth shakes his hand and says, “See you Saturday, Sean Martin.”

  The night of the date, I couldn’t help but t
hink about the fact that Beth invited me to her house. She must have liked what she saw. Maybe it was what I was wearing. It was the first time I wore some of the clothes that Patrick helped me pick out that he felt would improve the image I had.

  I was looking threw my new clothes and ended up picking out a black v-neck shirt and dark blue jeans and black dress shoes. It was so not my style but if it was going to help improve my chances with Beth, then I was going to continue wearing it. I couldn’t decide if I was going to wear the gold chain Patrick suggested I buy but in the end I wore that too.

  I hadn’t been out on the social scene in some time, but I was looking forward to hanging out with Beth and getting to know her in person. Running into her at the bar saved me the hassle of asking her to meet via email. Least I could do was meet other people and make some new friends. I wasn’t sure how many people would be there but I imagined it was going to be a small gathering.

  When I showed up at the address Beth gave me, the music that came from her house blasted so loud you could hear it from the front yard.

  “Kind of loud for a dinner party.” I said to myself.

  I got a tad bit nervous but I mustered up every ounce of courage I had and went inside, cheesecake in tow.

  I walked inside and there must have been hundreds of people there and Beth nowhere in sight. Beth’s friend that I have seen with her on a couple of occasions walked up to me.

  “Welcome! What’s this?”

  “It’s a cheesecake.”

  “Oh okay, thanks.” She looked confused.

  “Where’s Beth?”

  “Oh, she’s right over there.”

  “Beth!” I called to her.

  Beth saw me right away and excused herself from the group of men she was conversing with.

  “Hi Beth, it’s me Sean. Sean Martin. You know the guy you spilled your drink on yesterday?”

  “Oh, right. Mr. Martini.”

  “Yeah, me exactly.” I smiled. “I didn’t realize this was going to be a big party.”

  “Didn’t I tell you? Sorry about that.” Beth apologized as she put a key hanging on a string around my neck.

  “What is this?” I asked.

  “Well, women get lock necklaces and men get key necklaces. If you find a match tonight, then it’s whatever you want it to be.” Beth said suggestively.

  “Beth always throws the best singles parties,” Her friend exclaimed before she walked away to put the cheesecake in the kitchen.

  “This is a big house.” I commented.

  “Oh, this is my cousin’s house. He asked me to housesit while he was overseas, backpacking in Europe. Aren’t I the luckiest woman alive? Go mingle, Sean.” Beth encouraged as she shoved me further into the living room.

  “This is going to be interesting.” I said as I found myself all alone at the party of the woman of my dreams who I just wanted to be alone with. I assumed I would catch up with her later, I walked around checking out the place until I found myself on the back patio.

  I bent down and pulled a beer bottle out of the cooler near the sliding door and I took a swig and walked down the steps. I noticed a woman standing in front of the pool by herself, staring off into the sky.

  “Have you ever been to a party like this?” I said to her.

  “Nope. Can’t exactly say that I have. You?” She responded.

  “I went to a college party once where we had to dress up in costume as your favorite food but that doesn’t really count does it?” The woman shook her head ‘no’ and smiled.

  “I’m Sean, Sean Martin. By the way, I have looked sillier plenty of times, like right now.” I confessed.

  “I’m Bridgette. If anyone looks silly right now, it’s me. I brought cheesecake with me.”

  “I brought cheesecake, too! Seriously, I’m not even kidding.” I said amazed.

  “Really?”

  “Yes and you don’t look silly at all. As a matter of fact, you seem like an amazing woman.”

  “Thank you but you must obviously be drunk to think that.”

  “That’s crazy. How can you not see that? Plus, I am not drunk. The reason why I know that is because I just got here. Are you friends with Beth?”

  “Yeah. We work together. You?”

  “If I have to be honest, I thought this was going to be our first date.”

  “I think that’s the point of tonight. It’s everyone’s first date.” Bridgette joked.

  “No, I meant an actual date.” I explained.

  “Well, it’s still early. If you’re lucky, you just might get that date.”

  Beth walked up to us a few minutes later and patted both of us on the back, “What’s going on, you two?”

  “We were just talking about parties,” Bridgette explained.

  “Are you having fun?” I asked Beth.

  “Of course, I always have fun wherever I am. Although, no one has opened up my lock so far. Would you like to try?”

  “I’d love to.” I took my key necklace and tried to open Beth’s lock but it didn’t work.

  “Aww, nice try. Did you two try?” Beth asked us.

  “No, we haven’t actually.” Bridgette answered.

  “How about you two try? Come on, don’t be shy.” Beth urged.

  “Oh, alright.” I said hesitantly, as nice as she was, I didn’t know the woman.

  I used my key on Bridgette’s lock and it opens immediately.

  “It fits! Yeah! Everyone, we have our first couple!” Beth shouted.

  “Picture time!” Beth’s friend, Allison, screamed.

  Beth pushed Bridgette and I together for the picture that she wanted to take. Allison snapped a few photos of us, “Don’t forget to give me your email addresses before you leave so I can send you the pictures.”

  “Oh, so cute. Alright, everyone. Let’s see who else is a match.” Beth shouted to the party patrons as she and Allison headed back inside the house.

  “Okay, so what now?” Bridgette asked.

  “Cheesecake? We can have a slice. No one’s going to eat it anyway.” I suggested.

  “You know what? I think I’m just going to take off. You seem like a good guy, get to know Beth.”

  “Did I do something wrong?” I was confused.

  “No, I’m just really tired is all. It’s been a long week.”

  “Well, in that case, it was nice to meet you, Bridgette. I hope to see you again sometime.” I said shaking her hand goodbye.

  “Bye. Have fun.” Bridgette said as she headed back into the house, leaving me confused on the patio all by myself.

  Chapter Seven

  BRIDGETTE

  “HEY, YOU. Did you have fun?” I asked Kyle the next morning when Monica had dropped him off.

  “You bet! We played video games all night long and we had so much pizza.” Kyle said excitedly as he walked into the house.

  “Wow, sounds like you had a lot of fun.” I said to Kyle as Monica reached my front door with her sons following Kyle up to his bedroom.

  “Yeah, he did have a lot of fun. Looks like he made two new friends.” Monica smiled.

  “Thank you for helping out.”

  “You’re welcome. I’d do anything to get your love life out of the dumpster. How was your little party?” Monica asked.

  “Not so little. It was a singles party with hundreds of Beth’s closest friends.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Yeah, it was a lock and key theme which I guess was an decent ice breaker.”

  “Did anyone break your ice?” Monica asked suggestively.

  “No, not really.”

  “Bridgette…come on now.”

  “Well, there was this one guy I talked to. His name was Sean but he was crazy about Beth.” I sighed.

  “At least you met one decent guy there. That should have at least restored your faith in mankind. If not, there’s always your internet man.”

  “Yeah.”

  I spent the rest of the day reminiscing about my love life and last night�
��s party. I sat at my laptop but there wasn’t a new email from my secret admirer and he hadn’t written in a few days. Last night’s conversation with Sean had me thinking about men, Scott in particular.

  Ever since Scott left, I was so much in pain I developed a distrust in men and resented the notion of dating. I didn’t want to go through another heart break but I couldn’t help but acknowledge the fact that I was lonely and envious of everyone I knew who was in a loving relationship. I missed having romantic intimacy with someone that not only protected me and Kyle but also someone that I could connect with on a deep level. Kyle also needed someone he could look up to but unfortunately I hadn’t put myself out there enough for someone to find us.

  Beth’s friend Allison emailed me the photos she had taken of Sean and I at the party last night. It was a cute picture of us but he was crazy about Beth. It’s been so long since someone had been crazy about me, I had forgotten what it felt like to be admired. My current secret admirer technically didn’t count but he was crazy about me.

  I started to flip through the history of the emails we had exchanged and I smiled to myself. As I mulled over S’s witty repertoire, I got an notification that I had received a new email. It was from S. Oh joy, let the banter begin!

  S: What did you do last night?

  B: Big party.

  S: Well, did you meet anyone interesting?

  B: I’ll never tell you.

  S: I’ll take that as a yes.

  B: Whatever, you know men. They never call, just email.

  S: Maybe, you’ll be surprised.

  The Monday following Beth’s party came faster than desired. I was enjoying my weekend despite the unexpected party. I wasn’t ready for the onslaught of work we had been receiving for a while. Beth had to step out for a few minutes and then planned on going to lunch and had asked me to watch out for it because she was waiting for an important call from one of our clients.

  Her phone had been quite for most of the morning but once it was lunch time, it started to ring. I got up to answer it on her behalf, hoping it was a quick call because I had a lot of work to do.