"Chris, you're forty four years old. You've been divorced for ten years. I think maybe it's time to be a little less particular when it comes to the guys you'll date."
Chris shrugged bashfully, a trait her new friends Denise and Carol were getting used to after spending three months with Chris attending weekly classes on dating for divorcees.
"I'm not particular," Chris argued. "I'm...um...careful."
"Well, if you keep it up you'll be carefully looking for somebody when you're eight four," Denise said. "Have you looked in the mirror lately? You're pretty, blonde, thin, and have a great ass. Want to trade?"
Carol giggled, but Chris only blushed, saying, "I notice you didn't mention my non-existent boobs."
Denise replied, "If you had boobs I wouldn't be talking to you. No guy would ever notice me standing next to you. It's bad enough as it is being seen next to Meg Ryan's twin."
Chris looked at Carol as if pleading for help, but Carol had to agree with Denise. Chris' lack of male friends was NOT due to her looks and time was running short. The three had formed an unofficial club whose sole purpose was to find mates for each other...as quickly as possible. The entire concept went against Chris' conservative nature.
"So, are you going to answer the email from this Jeffrey guy?" Denise asked Chris.
"I don't know. He's six foot two, you know," Chris said.
"Damn it, Chris. Quit making excuses. You're five ten, for God's sake. I'm pretty sure sex will work just fine between you two."
Chris frowned. "Why does everything come down to sex with you, Denise?"
"Alright, you have a choice," Denise said with obvious irritation. "Either start dating Jeff...or any other guy...or wake up to find you are fifty, still single, and not the least bit horny."
"Will you consider the first date a total failure if we don't fuck all night?" Chris asked her.
Denise and Carol both had to suppress their laughter. If there was one thing Chris did really, really poorly, it was feign anger.
"I'd be happy if you told me you felt his hard-on one time when you kissed," Denise admitted. "God knows we don't want to rush you into anything."
"Have you learned anything new about him?" Carol said, trying to act as peacemaker.
Chris grinned her normal timid grin. "Oh, just that he's some type of vice president at his company and does something with computer networks. He likes sports, which, of course, I know nothing about. And his two kids are twelve and thirteen."
"How certain are you that he's divorced?" Denise said.
"Ninety five percent," Chris replied. "A friend of mine in that county is checking the public records for me."
"Yea!" Carol exclaimed. "You actually took the initiative on something. Next thing you know you'll have your hands all over him."
"Oh, stop it! You guys are awful," Chris said amid their laughter.
The fact was, Jeff was indeed very divorced and very keen on meeting the woman behind the picture of Chris that Denise and Carol had sent him. Denise had only met him once, at a party, but was willing to hand him over to her friend Chris in keeping with the trio's unsanctioned pact. He was actually quite good looking and athletic, and probably three or four years younger than Chris. But then, Chris didn't look like she was forty four, so it might still work, Denise argued.
But any man who was serious about Chris would have to quickly learn to deal with her over-the-top conservatism. There was only one man on earth who knew how Chris could be transformed behind a closed bedroom door, and that man had thrown her away for a younger lover. Chris had hardened in the ten years since the dumping, but a flame still burned for the right man. Secretly, she was very interested in Denise's tall friend. She just wouldn't let Denise and Carol know it until the time was right.
Chris did in fact answer Jeff's email and the two exchanged several messages over the next few days. As the second weekend of their 'friendship' approached, Jeff finally broached the subject of their meeting in person. Chris resigned herself to the inevitable and agreed to have dinner with him halfway between their two homes, which were about one hour apart.
She figured this safely allowed for a harmless getaway if the evening didn't go well. And despite her best intentions, she didn't expect the evening to go well. So little in her life had, why would this be any different?
Chris' first clue that the date would be anything but what she expected came when Jeff appeared in the restaurant lobby. He took her breath away with his tall, stately manner and incredible smile when he recognized her. His business casual outfit underscored his unique position in life: not far removed from youth and not quite middle-aged. He was mature with a hint of youthful liveliness.
The introductions were short and nervous, as expected. But five minutes after being seated most of the tension had evolved into true interest in learning more about the other. Chris studied Jeff's features while listening to him speak and Jeff inspected every inch of Chris' body visible above the table. Her hair was a perfect combination of blonde tousle and carefully controlled curl. Her eyes were like blue gems. If only the opening in her blouse had displayed even a hint of cleavage, she would have been a goddess.
But he put aside this ostensible imperfection for the moment and set his goal on making her laugh at least once during the meal. The objective was met over and over again until it would have been difficult to ascertain which of the two was more surprised at how well the dinner went.
They walked out of the restaurant nearly two hours later fighting the urge to hold hands. They just weren't that comfortable yet. But when they got to their cars and Jeff touched Chris on the arm, she felt her pulse quicken.
"Can I text you?" Jeff asked.
"You better. But not while you're driving."
He smiled. "It can wait that long. And if I ask if I can see you again...?"
Chris flashed her normal reserved grin. "Try it and find out."
Jeff slid his hand down her arm until their hands came together. "OK. I will. Good night, Chris."
"Good night, Jeff. Thanks for everything."
The next day, at their favorite Starbucks, Denise summed up her and Carol's joint reaction to Chris' account of the date: "And that's it? You just said 'Thanks' and drove off in separate directions?"
"Yep," Chris said with pride. "It was a really nice dinner."
"But what about dessert?" Carol inquired.
"No dessert last night," Chris replied. "But he texted me right away and, well, I think I'll see him again soon."
"When?" Denise said impatiently.
"Oh, maybe this weekend."
Denise and Carol exchanged a high-five. "Now we're getting somewhere. Where are you going to meet?"
Chris said, "My place."
"Yes!" Carol said with restrained glee. "We expect videos of the whole thing."
