“I wasn’t going to,” Mel said, a little too quickly. “But… hear me out for a second, right?” I rolled my eyes as she continued. “So, you’ve been doing this matchmaking thing since you were 23, started right after college. That’s seven years devoted to — as you said— dealing with and managing other people’s emotions, other people’s relationships. Add that to the stress of starting, building, and maintaining your business, then put all of that on top of the standard bullshit everybody has in relationships, and … girl, you were dealt a losing hand. Over, and over, and over.”
That actually made sense. Maybe I kept getting stuck in the same inharmonious rhythm because I wasn’t paying attention to what was in front of me. The life I had didn’t line up with the one I wanted, so maybe I need to shuffle my proverbial cards a little before I was dealt my next hand. Perhaps, it was as simple as doing something different.
“Okay, enough talking. It’s time to have some fun, and no, I’m not telling you where we’re going. You down?” Mel stood, straightening her clothes as she waited for me to respond. I had no idea what Mel had up her sleeve, but anything that helped pull me out of the fog, I was willing.
“Let’s go.”
— & —
“Speed-dating, Mel? Really?”
In spite of my scowl, Mel maintained a smug grin as she pulled me further into the elegantly decorated venue. I was honestly surprised by the number of people in attendance, as well as the many shades of brown that made up the crowd.
“Yes, really. What’s the problem?”
“We’re matchmakers,” I hissed into her ear, flashing a smile at a tall & handsome looking in our direction as he walked by. “We know the complete randomness of speed dating is not an efficient way to—”
“Shut up!” Mel rolled her eyes, turning up her lip in disgust. “Tori, we’re not matchmakers anymore, remember? Besides, we’re here because I thought it would be fun, not to actually for real meet anybody. Chill. Breathe, Tori, breathe.”
I bit down on my bottom lip, forcing myself not to respond. She was right. I wasn’t a matchmaker anymore. Taking a deep breath, I surveyed the room again, accepting a glass of wine from a passing waiter. “Okay. I’m cool. But Mel… I’m not interested into doing this date thing, not right now. I’m not ready.”
“Then don’t. Have fun with it, be silly, lie. Just… loosen up some, Tee. It’s about to start.”
I hurriedly drained my glass of wine and took another deep breath as the host stepped into the middle of the floor and began going over the directions. A few minutes later, I was seated in a booth, waiting on my first date to sit down. While I was waiting, I decided to do as Mel suggested, and have fun with it. Speed dating lived up to its name, and before I knew it, I was on my eighth three-minute ‘date’, third glass of wine, and I was having a blast.
This one, Eric, had the face of a teenager and the body of a linebacker. I could tell he was young, probably fresh out of college.
He took a swig from his beer, and then with his eyes placed firmly on my cleavage, asked, “So what’s your name, beautiful?”
“Jai,” I said, smiling through my tipsy haze.
He pointed to my chest. “But your name tag says Tori.”
“Never mind that. I like to be called Jai when I’m feeling a little…,” I bit my bottom lip, “nasty.”
“Oh, well Jai it is then, I like that. It’s sexy.”
“Mmhmm.”
Eric sat back, giving me what I was sure was intended as a seductive grin, but came across as a leer. “So… Sexy Jai, what do you do?”
“Career wise? Oh, I’m a pet gynecologist.” It was a struggle to keep a straight face as I watched him choke on his drink.
“Pet… gynecologist?”
I smiled. “Mmhmm. And it’s so wonderful. Like, you can’t possibly understand the fulfillment that comes from helping some precious child’s hamster get over a nasty case of Chlamydia.”
He frowned. “Hamsters can get STDs?”
“Oh boy, can they. Those little things hump like their little furry cousins, the rabbits. That’s why I encourage the little known safe sex practices in animal kingdom.” He leaned forward, his eyes bright with interest, and I had to cover my mouth to avoid laughing, and pretended I was getting choked up to cover. “But the saddest thing I’ve ever seen was this poor pet canary that had gotten pregnant by the family parrot. Poor thing had to deliver via c-section.”