that I’m working full-time, I get a lot of midnight shifts being the new guy. That leaves little to no time for us to be alone together.
Deven seems to carry on with her life like nothing has happened. She still gives Brad shit and they joke and laugh, watch TV together, and hang out around the house. She goes to work at the same time every day and gets home at the same time every night. She starts hanging out with Destiny more and more, trying to make herself scarce around the place when I’m there. She’s come home looking hungover and like she’s doing the walk of shame many times now, and it makes me wonder if she’s moved on from me, from us. Deep down, I know that we both need to move on from each other. Hanging on like this can’t be good.
So when Brad comes in from work one morning with a proposal, I can’t deny him.
“Hey, man. You got plans tonight?” he asks, sitting down at the kitchen table as I make a pot of coffee.
I’ve just woken up and am only half-alert. “No, not that I know of. I have the night off. Why? What’s up?”
“Well, there’s this woman. Her name is Abby. She works with me at the brewery, and I’ve had my eye on her for months now. She finally broke up with her loser boyfriend who works in shipping, so I jumped at the chance to ask her out.”
“Awesome! What did she say?”
“She said that she’s getting ready to leave for a two-week vacation, so it would have to be tonight or when she gets back. I don’t want to wait two weeks. I mean, what if she meets someone else and I lose my chance again?”
“So take her out tonight. I don’t see what this has to do with me.”
“Well, she’s going on vacation with her cousin. Her cousin just got here from Georgia, and they’re leaving together first thing in the morning. Which means that if I want to take Abby out, I need to find someone to take Virginia out.”
“I thought you said she’s from Georgia?”
“She is.”
“Then why call her Virginia?” I’m confused. Like I said, I just woke up.
“Her name is Virginia, man. Keep up!”
“Oh, okay. I’m sorry,” I say, pouring a cup of coffee. I take the cup and sit down across from him. “So, you’re wanting to me double with you and this girl?”
“Yes, I know it’s a lot to ask, but I don’t have anyone else to ask, and I really want to take this girl out. She’s unbelievable. I’d be kicking myself the rest of my life if I blew this shot and lost her.”
Take out another girl? I don’t want to, but it’s a favor for Brad. Not only that, but Deven has clearly moved on. I think it’s time that I do too. “Alright, fine.”
“Really?” he asks, eyes wide with excitement.
“Of course. I can’t be the reason you lose out on this dream girl.”
He laughs and stands up. “Thanks, man. Tell you what, dinner is on me.”
“No, that’s unnecessary. You pay for you and your date and I’ll pay for me and mine. I insist.” I know that he’s already hurting for money as it is. I don’t want him paying because he feels like he owes me something. God knows he doesn’t.
Brad leaves to go to bed for a few hours and I sit in the kitchen, enjoying my time alone in the quiet apartment since Deven has left for work. I eat breakfast and finish off the pot of coffee before going to the bathroom to shower and shave for this date. Deep down, I know it won’t work out. I’m not over Deven yet. But I owe it to myself and Brad to try. Plus, this woman lives in Georgia. Even if we did hit it off, it couldn’t go anywhere with us living in two completely different states.
No, tonight will be more of a trial run for me. See if I’m ready to get back out there. If I can honestly sit back and have a good time with another woman, then it’s time I try the whole serious dating thing. If I can’t stop comparing her to Deven, or if I’m thinking about Deven the whole time, then I’ll know that I need more time before attempting to move on. Either way, this date will give me an answer I need.