Being single at 35 sucked. I had been married but when she left for another woman my confidence took a big hit and I spent the next 10 years alone. I went on a lot of dates at first, I thought maybe I was trying too hard at times but I stuck to my morals, stayed a nice guy but got a lot of "you're nice but not my type" messages after 1 date. I was pretty average looking, kept in shape but just couldn't find the one for me.
My time came though, a good friend in work set me up on a blind date that changed everything.
"She's really nice, she's pretty and I think you guys will get on great." Said my friend Amber.
"And you don't have one single picture of her?" I replied
"She doesn't like her picture being taken, she can be a little shy but she is a wonderful woman, trust me."
"And how long has she been single?"
"That doesn't matter, if you don't have a good time I'll get you a date with Kelly even though I think she's a bitch and would be terrible for you."
"Kelly in accounting? No thank you, the guys like her because she looks like a porn star but that isn't a compliment." Amber laughed.
"Well you just be on time, Crystal will be there at 7pm."
I stood nervously waiting at 'The Headless Horseman', the bar that I was to meet Crystal. I had a single rose in my hand, had dressed pretty well and wondered what she would be like.
"You must be Marcus." Said the woman, smiling at me.
I half expected another frumpy soccer mom that I'd been set up with before but before me was a beautiful woman, long black hair and had the look of a vampire temptress from that show True Blood. She wore a black dress that accentuated her curves and had a respectable amount of cleavage that I'd struggle not to notice in a crowded room.
"I, yes, you're beautiful, shit I mean Hi, this is for you." I stammered holding out the rose. Crystal just laughed.
"And I thought I was the shy one, but thank you, I'll take the compliment."
"Sorry I just didn't know what to expect and you really are beautiful, caught me off guard is all."
"Well I'm flattered, thank you. Shall we get a drink first, you said our table is booked for 8 right?"
"Yes, sure that would be great. The restaurant is not too far so if it's okay we can walk, The Cloud Room."
"Oh I've heard that's really nice."
We chatted over a drink then took the short walk to the restaurant and chatted over dinner.
"I know you go red every time I say something but you have the most mesmerizing eyes." I said, trying not to sound cheesy.
"Thank you, I get that a lot. My parents both had green eyes so mine actually change with my mood. If you see them turn lilac you should probably not be around me." She said, smiling.
As the evening went on I wondered more and more why this incredible, beautiful woman was single. Emboldened by the wine and after dinner drinks I decided to ask.
"Please don't take this wrong but I'm really curious why such a beautiful woman like you is single, you're funny, very intelligent and you have an amazing personality. I just don't get it." I said.
"Most men are intimidated by me, the fact that I'm a practicing Witch puts most off too." She replied with a smile.
"Now I know you're not teasing me, I think that's pretty cool."
"How do you know I'm not teasing?"
"Well when the waitress tried to bring you that slice of cake that guy sent over you told her you were allergic to chocolate and your eyes wrinkled at the edges a certain way. You ate the after dinner chocolate mint so I knew it was a brush off to her but everything you've told me about you has been true."
"Nobody has ever noticed that before Marcus. Same question to you, why are you single?"
"I'm plain looking, average, needed the drinks I've had to be this open with you but I don't have a lot of self confidence. Wow, that was probably TMI huh."
"No, I asked what I wanted to know. Will you walk me home?"
"I'd love to."
We stopped outside a building on the nicer part of downtown, I had hoped I'd be invited in but I remained the gentleman I'd been all night.
"I have something for you Marcus, I was able to control you far too easily so I can't be with you but you have been such a gentleman tonight I'm going to give you a gift. I promise you'll find the one for you within a year and you'll have the most wonderful life."
"I... I don't understand."
"You asked why I was single, I told you the truth but I didn't tell you everything. I have a gift, I can only be with a man who I can't control and I haven't found him yet."
"What do you mean control?"
"Kiss my left cheek Marcus."
I did so without question.
"That is what I mean. It doesn't always work on women but I could hurt you if we were together and I'd hate that. Hold out your hand for me."
I did so again without question. Crystal took a pin from a matchbox sized case in her purse and stuck it in my hand, it hurt a little but when she rubbed it the pain left. She held my face and looked into my eyes.
"You will be more confident and the right one for you will notice, you will become the object of her desires and you'll know she's the one after your first kiss." Said Crystal.
She kissed me on the cheek and I got a little light headed.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening Marcus, it really was wonderful to meet you." She said then left.
Usually after a date that ended with me walking home alone or no plans for date 2 I'd be a little sad, wondering how I'd end my lifelong singleness but that night I was smiling, happy that I'd met Crystal, thankful for the time I'd spent with her and not upset at all that I had no plans to see her again.
That Monday in work I sat eating lunch with Amber.
"Hey, I spoke with Crystal on the phone, she thought you were really nice." Said Amber.
"Yea, I had a wonderful night with her, she tell you why I won't see her again?"
"She did but I'm really happy you went out with her. When do you fly out for the conference?"
"Tomorrow, hoping they have the new Vandium series software ready, is supposed to really streamline our network."
"You are such a nerd." Said Amber, laughing.
The conference was a lot of fun, really informative and I picked up a lot of good leads for my boss, I ate at the hotel for dinner, was to fly back the next morning so I had an early night planned. I went to grab the last danish from the dessert tray at the same time a woman did.
"Oh it's fine, you can have it." I said.
"No, then I'd feel terrible, it looks yummy. How about we share it?" She replied.
"Well then you'd have to join me and I'd hate to subject you to that."
"Well, Marcus, maybe I'd like to join you."
"How do you know my name?" I replied.
"You're still wearing your conference badge." She said with a grin.
"Oh." We both laughed.
We got a table together, it turned out she was at the same conference and we had a lot to talk about, we were both excited about the new things we'd learned and time flew, before we knew it it was getting late.
"I hate to be so forward but I'm really enjoying your company, do you want to take this to the bar?" She said.
"Only if you tell me your name." I said.
"Oh wow, I'm so sorry, I'm Clara." She said with a smile.
"Well how about we meet there in 30 mins, I'd love to get out of this work shirt."
"Okay, I should change too."
We laughed when we turned out to be on the same floor.
Clara was already in the bar by the time I got there, she'd changed into a simple but pretty black dress while I had just put on a shirt and jeans.
"You look really nice, I'm only here for the night so I only brought these, I feel really under-dressed now." I said with a smile.
"Well don't, you look fine. I was hoping there was a banquet or something like they had last year but I guess they're cutting costs." Replied Clara.
"I still can't believe we stay in the same city, that's so awesome."
"What if I turn out to be crazy?" She said, grinning.
"Well you're beautiful so I have a higher threshold for crazy." We both laughed.
"Why are you single at 35 Marcus." Said Clara touching my hand.
I explained my divorce, my lack of confidence after it and everything in between.
"Wow, well is her loss, women are fun now and then but I don't think I could share a bedroom with another."
"You're married or a nun or something right?"
"Yes Marcus, I've just admitted I'm bi, I totally belong in a church. And no, my ex traded me for a younger model, knocked up a 19 year old and moved to Florida with her."
"Well I'm sure his trailer is just lovely."
Like dinner, our conversation flowed easily, Clara was very flirty, funny and very easy to talk to. Our barman told us it was time to close, it was 2am.
"Are you serious, my goodness, I didn't think it was that late. Sorry, so much for an early night to fly rested." Said Clara.
"Are you on the 8.15?"
"Yes! You too? Wow!"