Page 1 of Why Not Both?

Chapter 1

Lis

“So I was just wondering. What’s your blood type?”

I pause with the fork halfway to my mouth and look across the table at my date. Grant had seemed like an interesting person online. We had a few things in common, including both having pet corgis. Our coffee date a few days ago had also gone okay. But this dinner is crashing and burning. After the conversation at the cafe, it turns out we have nothing left to talk about.

“Excuse me?” I ask, not sure if I heard him right.

“Your blood type. Do you know what it is?”

“Yes.” I donate blood regularly, so I know I’m B positive. Not that I have any intention of telling this man who I’ve known for only a week. “Why do you want to know?”

“Well,” he says, stalling by taking a drink of water. “I actually had hoped to discuss this once we knew each other better, but I need a kidney transplant.”

I’m glad I hadn’t taken that bite of food because I certainly would have choked on it. I set my fork, that I’d held suspended halfway to my mouth, down on my plate. “You need a kidney,” I say, slowly.

“Yes. I’m on a list, but if I find someone willing to donate their kidney, I won’t have to wait anymore.” He takes a bite of food as though he asks people for their kidneys every day.

“Right.” I look at my plate and then at my glass of wine. “I, uh. I need to go to the bathroom. Excuse me.”

I get up, bringing my purse with me and escape to the ladies’ room. I stand at the sink, staring at myself in the mirror. Why does this always happen to me? Weird guys, creepy guys, assholes. I can’t find one regular, cool guy. Someone I can laugh with and feel at ease with. I have to find the guys who need kidneys.

I went all out getting ready for this date. My blonde hair is scooped up into a stylish ponytail with the rainbow dye exposed. My favorite red top matches my bright red nails. My cute skinny jeans show off my ass. Even my winged eyeliner is symmetrical and on point. I look hot. All that preparation, wasted.

I’m second guessing everything. Had he simply asked me out to ask for my kidney? He said he’d hoped to bring it up when we knew one another better. Had he brought it up now because, like me, he knew there wasn’t going to be another date? Did he even have a corgi?

I sigh and pull my phone from my pocket, sending a quick SOS text to my sister before I go back to the table.

“What’s your blood type?” I ask Grant as I sit down.

“A positive.”

“Oh. That’s too bad. I’m not a match.” At least I won’t feel guilty later when I never speak to him again. I mean really. Who asks someone for a kidney on their second date?

My phone rings.

I lift it, seeing my face staring back, with shorter hair and no colour.

“My sister is calling. Excuse me.” I answer, “Hey, Daze. What’s up?”

“You told me to call. Is it really going that bad?” my sister asks.

I let my face fall from the polite smile I’d been wearing to a concerned expression.

“Oh no. Is she okay?” I ask, adding some anxiety to my voice.

“That bad then. Well, it’s Saturday night and you spent all that time getting ready. Sophie and I are taking you out.”

“Do you want me to come?”

“Obviously I want you to come. We’ll go out dancing. Soph was already trying to convince me.”

“Okay. I’ll be right over. See you soon.” I hang up the phone and turn to Grant. “I’m so sorry. I have to go. My sister’s girlfriend was in an accident.”

“Nothing too serious, I hope.”

“No, no.” I pull out my wallet. “They think it’s just a broken leg, but Daze needs me, so I have to go.”

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