the third in my internet-spam adaptation series
Blind dates can definitely be a nightmare. It's a symptom of our modern age that dating in general has become so difficult, and that women can be very hard to meet. I will also openly admit that a lot of that difficulty comes from my own general awkwardness. But, I do have a good reputation at work, and with some help from my co-workers, will occasionally be offered the opportunity for a night out or two. I don't think I could have ever predicted how this particular date was going to end up, not with my track record at any rate.
For the sake of propriety, I'll leave out the name of the person I'd been set up with. The original contact had to do with an outside work contract, and a set of exchanged emails that finally led to this afternoon lunch date. If I was smart, I would have kept her at arm distance, but sometimes you have to take a chance. I'm normally not very good at taking chances, it's true, so I went into this little date with a great deal of nervous anticipation.
She was a gorgeous blonde, probably one of the most attractive women I'd ever met in my life. Right away I felt that niggling sense of insecurity, the feeling that this woman was far too good for me. Those kinds of feelings can be death, as the one thing that's going to turn anyone off is insecurity. So, I kept my open smile, and reminded myself to maintain eye contact and not stare down at my shoes.
The downtown cafe where we decided to meet was a pretty nice establishment, quaint, with an interesting mix of people. The oddest person in the place happened to be our waitress, which was the next thing to put me off step that afternoon. Her short, spiky hair was coloured a bright red, and the flash of metal when she spoke was evidence of a tongue piercing. Despite her potentially aggressive appearance, she was friendly and pleasant to us both.
I had to believe things weren't going well when my unsmiling date asked pointed questions about my vocation, including my annual wage and my property ownership. The only thing that could have been worse is if she blatantly asked about my cock size. Well, actually, that would have been better, since my natural endowments happen to be in better shape than my financial ones.
As if to add insult to injury, this woman actually got up and left during the course of the conversation. She left with her lunch half eaten, and me with the bill, naturally. I'd honestly never come across anyone or anything like that before. I was completely stunned, frozen in my seat.
"I can't believe she did that."
The voice came from our freaky waitress, who had apparently witnessed the whole thing.
"Par for the course, I guess," I shrugged, trying to keep any hint of hurt from my voice. "You never know what you're going to get with these internet blind dates, and I have to assume I wasn't up to snuff for her. Not enough you-know-what."
I made the scratching motion with my two fingers.
"No way, nuh-uh," she shook her head. "I don't care what, I'd never treat any guy like the way she treated you. It completely sucks."
"Thanks," I said, reaching for my wallet to pay for the meal. I suspected she was either just being friendly, or fishing for a higher tip.
"I'm being honest," she continued. "I've met people online before too. Even when they're not great, you at least give them a chance, you know? And hell, I don't see what her problem with you is. You look like a very nice guy to me."
"Yeah, and we both know where nice guys finish, right?"
"No, no, none of that stuff," she said sternly, looking me in the eye. "I don't want a bitch like that turning you into a little ball of bitterness. I'm going to make it up to you, on behalf of our so-called fairer sex."
She gave me her phone number on a blank card. I looked up at her in unmasked astonishment.