It's been four months since my boyfriend, Brock, broke up with me. I spent the first month mourning our lost love, then about a month telling people I'm "working on myself", and two months striking out with the blind dates my friends set me up on. I finally decided to download Shyppr, the latest trendy dating app.
After a few 'definitely nots' and a couple 'maybes' I came across Jason's profile. His first picture was of him in a black suit and bright blue tie, smiling at the bar with some friends, or maybe work colleagues. The second picture was a close up of his face, his jet black hair styled up with a serious look on his face, his sky blue eyes piercing through the camera. Next, was a photo of him taken while playing beach volleyball, his skin, tight and tanned, emphasizing his muscular body, poised to bump the ball.
Three pictures in and I was already swooning, picturing our future together.
The last picture was of him at a cafe, about to take a sip of his black coffee. At second glance, I noticed the logo on his cup. It was The Donut Whole, the same cafe that I always go to. I wondered if I ever saw him.
According to his written profile he's a forensic accountant for some firm here in New York. A nice, stable job.
I decided to swipe right on him. As his pictures whooshed away my heart leapt into my throat.
"What if he doesn't swipe right on me?" My mind quickly flooded with doubt. "Why would he? No one's been interested in me since Brock." I tried to fight back the negative thoughts. "Maybe he just hasn't seen it yet."
After a few minutes of staring at my phone, barely noticing the next profile, I hit the power button on my phone, and tossed it on the bed.
To distract myself, I grabbed my laptop and opened Hulu. I resumed my episode of Pretty Little Liars and tried not to focus on my phone.
Ding!
I quickly grabbed my phone and unlocked it. One new notification. "New Match: Jason. We're already Shypping you two!"
My heart jumped back into my throat as I clicked on the notification. After a loading screen with the Shyppr logo, it opened a chat screen. I quickly typed, "Hey."
My finger hovered over the send button, and the doubt set in again. "What if he swiped right by mistake." No. I can't think like that.
"I need to add something to seem interesting." I thought to myself.
"Hey, I noticed you were drinking coffee in one of your pictures. Was that at The Donut Whole?" This time I hit send before I could second guess myself.
Sent. Delivered. Read. He had the chat open already. Typing...
"Yeah. Have you ever been there?" He replied.
"I go about once a week. But I usually get boba milk tea, not coffee." I sent back.
"Haha, so basic. It's pretty cool you know about TDW."
He thinks I'm cool. My heart fluttered.
"So, what are you doing?" I asked.
"I actually just got home. I'm going to take a shower then probably relax on the couch with a movie." I couldn't help but imagine him in the shower. I already knew what he looked like from his beach volleyball picture, my mind was aflutter.
Trying to keep my thoughts clean, I asked, "What's your favorite movie?"
"I know you'll probably think it's dumb, but Fast and Furious is actually my favorite movie."
"I've actually never seen it."
"Oh yeah? I've actually got all of them if you'd be interested in watching them some time."
"I'm not doing anything tonight." As soon as I hit send, I immediately regretted it. What was I thinking? I don't know this guy.
There was a few minutes pause, then he sent back, "Oh. I guess tonight is fine."
"I mean, it doesn't have to be tonight."
"No. Tonight is fine. I'll make popcorn when you get here ;)"
He sent me his address. I looked it up and it was actually pretty close, but I told him it was gonna be about half an hour, so I could change and get ready.
Hopping off my bed, I quickly ran to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My curly red locks were messy, so I tried to brush them. After realizing that wasn't going to happen, I gave up and focused on what I would wear.
I had on an extra large t-shirt that was basically a nightgown on my small framed body. Obviously that wouldn't do, so I pulled it off and tossed it aside. Looking at my naked body, I didn't feel very confident, so I would need my secret weapon.
I went to my closet and rummaged around until I found it, a sexy, red lace lingerie set. One of the few "gifts" from Brock I actually kept. Jason won't see it tonight, but just wearing it boosts my confidence and I need as much of that as I can get tonight.
We're just watching movies at his place, so I need something fashionable, yet comfortable. I grabbed a pair of black leggings, you can never go wrong with leggings. Next I found a red, ribbed sweater and pulled it on. I slipped on my brown knee-high boots and grabbed a scarf. I threw my purse over my shoulder and I was ready.
The air outside was brisk on my skin, making me glad for the scarf around my neck. Jason's apartment was only a few blocks away. The closer I got, the harder my heart beat.
When I opened the door to his building, I could already tell that I wouldn't be able to afford living here. His apartment is 402, so I step into an elevator and hit the button for the fourth floor.
It was easy enough to find his door. I took a breath and raised my hand to knock on the door. For a moment I considered just walking away, but I didn't. I knocked on the door. Hearing it unlock made my heart feel like it was about to beat out of my chest.
"Hiya." A perky brunette answered the door and looked down at me. She was wearing a light blue silk pajama set that hugged her body so perfectly it almost looked painted on. "Can I help you?"
Something about her was familiar, but I couldn't place it. Then she pulled her hair behind her ear, and it clicked. She was in the picture of Jason at the bar. Was she his girlfriend?
I clutched the strap of my purse, and said, "Oh. Uh. I- I think I have the wrong door."
She gave me a kind smile, then turned and called out, "Jason, she's here."
I couldn't help but stare at his body as he walked up, wearing only a pair of gray sweatpants. Somehow his muscles were even more defined than in the picture. He was even taller than she was, and seeing them together made me feel especially small.
"Thanks, babe." He said, before kissing her. Then he turned to me and opened his arms for a hug. "Emily, welcome."
Confused, I stepped forward and reciprocated his hug. After an awkward silence I let out a nervous chuckle, and said, "Looks like I'm overdressed."
"I think you look great." The woman answered.
"Come on in." Jason said. "I was just about to make some margaritas, if you're interested."
"That's actually my favorite." I said, relaxing a bit. I walked inside and closed the door behind me.
"Hey, hun." The woman started. "Would you mind taking off your boots and leaving them by the door?"
"Oh. Yeah, Sorry." I stopped suddenly and tried to pull my boot off.
"No need to apologize, you didn't know." She was very welcoming.
My boot was stuck, so I pulled harder, and when it finally came loose, I lost my balance and fell down. The woman came rushing over. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"Yeah," I said, rubbing my elbow. "I'm pretty clumsy."
"Here," She took my other boot in her hands and pulled it off with ease. "Let me help you." She stood up and held out her hand.
When she pulled me up, our bodies were almost touching, and I could feel my face glow red from the closeness. With a small cough, I stepped back and said, "Thanks. Uh... I never caught your name."
"Oh, goodness me," She said. "My name's Megan."
"Thanks, Megan." I brushed my hands on the bottom of my sweater.
I followed her into the kitchen where Jason had three salt-rimmed glasses of margarita poured. Megan sat down on one of the barstools and I sat down next to her. Jason slid a glass to each of us before sitting down on the last barstool.
"I heard you take a tumble in the hall," He said, taking a sip of his drink. "I hope you're alright."