To The Rude Guy in Apartment Five - J. S. Cooper Page 0,62
I think you getting off work early today was a sign that this date was meant to be.”
I rolled my eyes. There were no clouds in the sky today. That could have been a sign, too. But I don’t believe in signs or coincidences. As far as I’m concerned, everything that happens in your life is going to happen, whether you like it or not. But I knew that Charlotte would not give up unless I said yes to a blind date, so I resigned myself to just going.
“Emily, you deserve to find a good man.” Charlotte continued her pep talk as I started running along the street like a madwoman. I’d just noticed the time and I was going to be late if I didn’t run. I didn’t want to go on the date, but I also didn’t want to be rude. “Just enjoy the date and have a good time.”
Her voice was light and happy, and I tried not to roll my eyes again at her words. Just a few months ago, she’d been down on men as well, but now that she’d found love, she felt everyone should be searching for it. And by everyone, I meant me. She wasn’t going to stop until she had me in a relationship. A part of me was touched that she cared so much, but another part of me was over it already. I enjoyed my life. Granted, it was a bit lonely and boring, but Netflix and pizza nights would never break your heart. They might add a few pounds to your hips, but I was okay with that.
“You know I hate blind dates,” I rasped as I glared at the traffic light, willing the light to change to green so that I could cross the road. “This is not how I want to spend my Friday night.”
I was breathing hard from running and ready to curse someone out. How was I this out of shape? Didn’t I go to the gym two times a week to ensure I didn’t run out of breath when I ran?
No, you go to ogle the hot guys, a little voice whispered inside of my head and, I stifled a giggle. This was not the time to be laughing, though I resolved that maybe I’d look into getting a personal trainer because walking on the treadmill at 3MPH was obviously not making me any fitter.
“You’d rather be watching Netflix and eating pizza?” Charlotte said in her judgmental voice, and I once again tried not to roll my eyes at her tone. Who was she to judge me? Netflix had never broken my heart, and pizza only added to my weight, not my stress levels.
“Uhm, just three months ago, we were watching Netflix together,” I reminded her. My calves were burning from the running and I suddenly wished that I had gone to those Zumba classes I’d signed up for after all.
“Yes, but now I have Max, and I want you to find love like me.” Charlotte was almost singing, and I wanted to gag.
“Charlotte, you’ve been dating Max for three months.” The light changed and I crossed the street. “How can you be in love already?” I didn’t add, How can you love a guy you started off hating? because I knew she wouldn’t wanna hear it. And I didn’t want her to think I was some sort of hater.
“Emily, once the love bug bites you, you know it. It doesn’t matter if it’s three days or three months.” Charlotte laughed. “Now, please give this guy a chance.”
“Yeah, yeah. Oh, do you want to hear something funny that I learned today?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“There’s a mob boss in Italy that trained an African grey parrot to say, Now, ‘I’m going to shoot you,’ to threaten people.”
“No way.” She laughed. “That’s wild.”
“Crazy, right? I think we’re going to incorporate it into the script of a movie we’re making.”
“Emily, you’re changing the subject,” Charlotte replied. “Right now, you need to concentrate on your date.”
“Ugh, fine,” I mumbled. “I’m sure my date isn’t going to be as fascinating as a parrot owned by the mob.”
“Emily, think positive thoughts. Didn’t you say you were going to create a vision board?”
“Eh ... What’s this guy's name again? John something?” I looked up and down the street and tried to locate the small wine bar that I was meeting my blind date in. I couldn’t believe that I’d agreed to this date, but Charlotte and our other best friend,