by Caitie Quinn
"Sarah."
"Welcome to The Brew Ha Ha, Sarah. First time in?"
"Um, yes?" It seemed odd to share that with someone, especially someone I didn't know.
"Great. I bought the place about four months ago. I'm still getting to know the regulars. Can I get you something?"
Oh. The owner. Less weird then.
"I'm meeting someone, but sure." I followed him to the counter and looked over the menu. It was oddly comforting to see the sizes small, medium and large. I wasn't a fan of coffee guess work. After ordering a medium chai tea, I headed back to the art wall.
It was quiet, only one older gentleman sitting in the corner reading a newspaper. I knew that couldn't be great for business, but it was perfect for me.
"You really seem to like the gallery."
"Exhibit. Or showing. Or even display."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"That's what you call the display, not a gallery. That's something else."
"Oh." John smiled a funny little smile. He seemed more confused by my correcting him than by the word.
"Sorry. It's just… I work in a museum. This is part of what I do."
I didn't tell him how poorly planned his display was.
"That must be really interesting. This is my first time having anything on the walls. I mean, besides the bad prints that were here before. I'm trying to bring in some more clientele."
"I like it like this." The voice came from the far side of the room. "Nice and quiet."
"That's Ernest." John lowered his voice. "Don't mind him. His hobby is being grumpy."
"Oh." I mean, what else could you really say to that?
"I'll let you relax before your friend gets here. If you need anything, let me know."
John gave me a grin and headed back toward the counter, pulling a towel off a table as he went.
I settled in one of the overstuffed chairs near the fireplace, enjoying the space. I was checking my emails—a weekend hazard when you worked for a museum—when a tall man who was even better looking than the picture of him at his sister's wedding rushed in the door.
"Sarah? I'm so sorry I'm late."
I glanced at the clock over the counter. He was two minutes late—if the clock wasn't fast.
I rose and stuck my hand out, unsure of etiquette for eLove meet-ups.
"Hi. It's nice to meet you. You're not late at all." I smiled, trying to go for reassuring, when really I was just feeling nervous.
"Really?" He glanced at his watch and sort of frowned. In his world two minutes must have been an eternity.
Good to know.
"Can I get you a refill?"
I hefted my half-full tea and shook my head. "No thanks. I just got this."
"I'll be right back." He smiled. It was a reassuring smile. One I was sure he used in the hospital all the time. It made me wonder how used to handling people he was. If he was handling me.
Stop. Just stop.
Jane had warned me not to jump to the worst assumptions right away. She said, let things play out and not read into everything.
She also said she wanted immediate text updates as soon as he left. He was so good looking I wanted to pre-date text her.
Trey paid for his drink and gave John a curt nod to end their conversation. He wandered across the café, glancing at all the hominess.
"Cute place. Do you come here often?" As soon as the words left his mouth he blushed. And just like that I relaxed. "I mean, is this a regular hangout?"
"It is really cute, isn't it? And nope, this is my first time here. I thought somewhere neither of us would feel like we might run into people would be comfortable."
"You put a lot of thought into this?"
"To be honest, this is my first time online dating. My girlfriends had a lot to say about it. Lots of so-called rules."
"Like what?"
"Oh, you know. Be on time, but that's just manners. Coffee, not dinner. Somewhere not too close to home. Don't get in anyone's car." I shrugged. "Most of them were just common sense."
"Any really odd ones?"
I almost hated to tell him, but why not find out if he had a sense of humor?
"Michelle suggested getting close enough to smell you. If you smelled like a pet, then your house would reek of animals and if we got married I'd be stuck in a dog-scented house for the rest of my life and probably even win it in the divorce. She's such an optimist. I told her let's see if we make it through coffee."
He laughed, a deep-chested sound. Obviously weird smells and marriage in the first five minutes wasn't going to scare him off.
"I don't have pets. I'd love to have a dog, but my hours are a little crazy. I don't think it would be fair to him to be stuck in the house all day. How about you?"
"Well, there's Winston. But he's just a beta fish, so he's stuck in the house all day either way."
Look at me being all charming and stuff.
"So, Trey, tell me about your job." I ran through all the directions in the dating books. Ask about him, smile, lean in, look interested even if you're not.
Although, let's be honest. A good-looking, successful doctor starts telling you how he enjoys his practice as a primary care physician and spending his vacation time hiking in Europe, it's pretty easy to look interested.
Every time I tried to follow up, he'd jump in with something like Sarah, where has your favorite trip been or I know you work in a museum, does that mean you don't enjoying going to them anymore?
"Why exactly are you online dating?" I'd been wanting to ask since he'd whistled—a pre-email move—at me online. No one could be this good, could he?
"I work with doctors and nurses all day. I know the kind of schedule and pressures we have." He shrugged as if it just couldn't be helped. "I know I'd never be able to make it work with someone just like me. I wanted to meet someone outside that world. Someone a bit… softer. I know. That sounds horrible. I'm not a monster or anything. Just too focused. My best friend told me I need to meet someone who knows how to help me leave it at work."
I could understand that. Everyone needed balance. My last boyfriend didn't understand that being a curator meant I was often at the museum for special events… even at night, even on the weekends.
"What about you? Why online dating?"
Because I was desperate for a New Year's date just didn't seem to have the same ring to it.
"Well, most of my close friends are married, so my social life often revolves around places you don't meet other singles. I'm not looking to end up at the altar tomorrow, but I realized all the places I used to meet interesting men were places you can't go alone. And you also can't bring a pregnant woman with a stroller."
"Like Sweet Home Alabama."
He did not just reference my favorite movie.
"You have a baby," he continued, "in a bar."
"Exactly. Although I'm a little surprised by your ability to quote chick flicks."
"My last girlfriend loved movies. All we did was stay in and watch rom coms."
"Oh." Yeah, not the life I envisioned for myself.
"Exactly. You can see why it didn't work out. Even getting her to try a new restaurant was like pulling teeth."
We chatted for almost three hours—or two chai tea refills—before I realized the time.
I'd expected him to stay an hour tops. There was no way I'd thought my first date would be it—would be the guy I not only wanted to spend New Year's with, but maybe a whole bunch of time after that. He was exactly what I'd always been looking for. We totally matched.
Unfortunately, I'd planned to meet someone else that afternoon. Both men had said it was their only day free for the next few weeks, so I'd said yes to both.
I was trying to figure out a nice way to end the date, when I heard, "Trey. What's up?"
I glanced up and panicked.
The table was too small. I'd never be able to hide under it. The bathroom? Too far away.
FOUR
Rock Guy – I like to c
limb stuff—and I don't mean just the corporate ladder. In my free time I rock climb locally as well as a guided climb trip each summer. I'm looking for someone to share that sense of wonder and adventure with and bring it into everyday life.
I GLANCED OVER MY shoulder to find a good-looking man in a blue pullover smiling down at us. One who looked suspiciously like Date Two's profile picture.
"Hey, man." Trey stood and shook the guy's hand, doing that half-hug thing men do instead of just showing affection. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm meeting someone."
"Weird." Trey turned to me, offering his hand as I stood. "This is Sarah."
"Sarah?" It was the way he said my name that told me we were all going downhill from there. "Sarah, Art Girl, Sarah?"
"Oh. Yeah." I should have known my perfect date would get not-so-perfect at some point. But hey… as Jane always joked, it was a story we could tell our grandkids. "Adam?"
Trey waved a hand between us. "How do you guys know each other?"
"We don't. I mean, we do, but we don't. Adam and I were matched up on eLove too." This shouldn't feel so awkward. "You were so busy and interesting and stuff, I figured we'd get together and then you'd be off to do something. So, when Adam said he could only meet up tonight, it seemed like a good idea."
Both guys looked at me. Maybe less would have been more in that explanation.
"Oh." Trey studied me, disappointment coming through as his brows drew together. "So…"
"So?" I wasn't sure what he wanted to say. All I knew was I'd just been on one the best dates of my life and I was really hoping it wasn't going to end awkwardly.
"So, Adam's my best friend. High school. College roommates. Travel buddies."
"Oh." Okay. Adam's date was going to go down as the shortest one in the history of mankind. Basically ending when he said hello.
"We've made a deal we'd…" Trey looked at Adam who only raised an eyebrow at him. "We don't date the same girls."
So, Adam's one-second date would have to be struck from the dating history of Sarah Joy Gable. I was okay with that.
"Okay." I got it. Never come between friends. It was good to see guys who had been that close for so long. It said a lot of good things about Trey.
"So, I'm going to have to cancel our plans for next week." He took my hand and smiled down at me; that reassuring smile I'm sure he used all the time at work. "You understand, right?"
"Um, no?" We'd had a great date. It went three times longer than expected with nothing but good vibes and, because I'd chatted with his best friend, we were off?
"Adam's been one of the few friends I've been able to keep through all the crazy school and residency and work stuff. We can't go out with the same girl. And since you guys have been chatting, we'd never make anyone pick. It would just get… awkward."
As compared to this. This wasn't awkward at all—unless you were, you know, human.
"So. That's it then." I tried not to let the last word drift into a question. Trey was being pretty clear.
"I'm sorry. It was great to meet you. I hope I meet someone just like you soon."
Great. I was being tossed over for someone he might someday meet just like me.
"You too." Seriously. Someone just like him. Only without the best guy friend who couldn't compromise.
Trey shook his head one time and headed toward the door. Adam just looked down at me like I'd done something horrible on purpose. "Nice to meet you."
"Uh, you too?"
He joined Trey at the door, giving him a slap on the back before they headed out into the already dark late-afternoon.
FIVE
DATING TRUTH #3: My mama always told me, dating was like a box of Crayons. Wait. What?
I STOOD AT THE TABLE, watching the closed door and wondering if I was on one of those weird MTV shows. I should have guessed three hours ago it was a set up. No guy could really be that perfect, right?
"Sarah?" John called me from behind the counter. "Everything okay?"
No. No it wasn't.
I fell into my chair and stared at my tea.
The scrape of wood on wood had me glancing up to watch John join me.
"The date looked like it went pretty well." John pushed a fresh pot of tea my way.
Teapots. Charming.
"Yeah. It was pretty much perfect." I poured us each a cup of tea, watching the amber liquid splash about in the shallow white porcelain. "How'd you know it was a date?"
"I run a café. They're like the number one spot for first dates." He lifted his glass, smiling at me over the rim. "Why don't you tell me why you're staring at the door and looking a bit disappointed then?"
I didn't really want to have this conversation. I was still working to rewrite the positive text messages I'd been composing in my head during the date. Instead of Jane! Met the man of my dreams—can't wait for you to meet him! I was now dealing with, Met the man of my dreams. After one date he threw me over for his best friend.
Not very complimentary.
Jane, of course, would make a completely inappropriate comment about him secretly being gay. Which I would know was wrong and unfair on a lot of levels, but would still make me feel a bit better.
"Come on now." John pulled his chair in and set his elbows on the table. "I'm basically the sober version of a bartender. You'd be shocked what people tell me."
Why not? Texting could be tedious anyway.
"Okay." I sipped at the tea and totally got derailed. "Wow, what is this?"
"Chamomile with lemon grass and a bit of ginger."
"It's soothing with a bit of a kick."
"That's the point. I'm still working on just how much ginger is enough, but not too much."
"You made this?"
"Yup. I've started blending the teas. I'd like to start measuring them out for sale."
Brilliant.
Between that and the new art, John was really adding some nice touches to his venture.
"Anyway, what prompted sadness after a great date?"
"Right. So, that was Trey… I should back up." Might as well. I was going to be seeing a lot of John over the next two weeks. "I had plans for a girls' night on New Year's with the dregs of the single girlfriends. And they all came back from Thanksgiving with boyfriends."
John nodded. It wasn't like it was a surprise where this was heading.
"Next thing you know, I'm the seventh wheel on girls' night, which is now new couple's night."
"So, you thought you'd find a date online."
It had been more than that I realized. I wasn't sure how much I wanted to tell John—even if he was my sober bartender.
Realizing I was suddenly the last single girl… it had been a little depressing.
"I have almost three more weeks till New Year's. I thought I'd be able to post my profile and get to know a couple guys online the first week, spend the middle two weeks getting to know each one, and then have a week buffer hoping one might come with me to the Murder Mystery Dinner thing."
"Makes sense." John poured a bit more tea and waited for me to continue. When I didn't, he asked, "So, how'd the first date go?"
I sucked in a deep breath trying not to sound let down. "That was actually dates one and two. Date One went great. We really hit it off. Date Two got here, ended up being Date One's best friend, and they went with some childhood pact to never fight over a girl, and left."
"Wait, they left even though you technically hadn't met Date Two yet?"
"Yup."
"Date One went really well and he just left because you'd emailed his best friend a few times?"
"We'd emailed once and he said with the holidays being so busy we should just meet up."
"So, you'd gotten one email from him? I spend more time emailing people to unsubscribe from those annoying marketing emails."
I snorted tea out my nose. It wasn't pretty, but it just made me laugh harder.
"Date One is showing a severe lack of intelligence. He's going to be single
forever."
"He's a really nice guy."
"That doesn't make him any less stupid."
"Actually, he's a doctor."
"A stupid doctor." John shook his head. "On the upside, if your first date—"
"First two dates."
"—was that good, that means you'll be finding the right guy. Now that you're out there putting your mind to it. I'm sure you can do anything you put your mind to."
"Oh, thanks." That was really sweet.
"How many dates have you scheduled?"
"Five."
"Nice. Like one of those Crayon starter boxes you get when you're a kid. You'll have a whole rainbow thing going on."
I'd settle for just one right hue—I mean, guy. Or a guy named Hugh.
"Have you ever done online dating?" I asked. They say most people had, right?
"No."
Or not.
"Okay." I wasn't sure what else to say short of How 'bout those Pats?
After a moment John the-sober-bartender added, "I was actually in a pretty long-term relationship until a few months ago."
Again. Oh.
"I'm sorry?" I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be sorry or not. I hated blind conversations like this.
"No. It's okay. She didn't like how much time starting my own business took. Also, she said she hadn't signed on for this."
"For a coffee shop?" Who ever really assumes they've signed on for a coffee shop?
"For me not making a lot of money. Coffee shop startups aren't exactly raking in the dough. This one is barely cutting even." John winked at me and smiled before adding, "I'm lucky I get a lot of neighborhood walk-through business in the morning. Commuters catching the train."
"It's good to have a niche. So, what had she signed on for?"
"I was in finance."
"A lot of people are."
"No, I mean, I was fast-tracked. They expected me to be sitting in an executive office by the time I was forty."
Wow. Over achiever much? That made my career drive look lazy.
"But that's not what you wanted?"
