Page 39 of Courting Clemson

As I typed a message to him, I read and reread his message to me. I wanted to be sure I answered any questions he asked and sprinkle information about me in between.

Grace read as I typed.

“Maybe don’t specify how many times a week or month you can date,” she said. “You don’t want to discourage him, right? I’m sure that’s something that can be discussed once you meet the first time.”

“Oh, that’s a good point. I also don’t want to be misleading. I still have obligations with the team, even though I can’t compete right now. I still have to practice and everything else.”

“I think those are all things you can figure out later. Plus, it will give you something to talk about at first when things are awkward,” she pointed out.

“Damn, girl. You’re a natural at this. Are you sure you don’t want to dive into this pool with me?”

She shook her head. “Uhh, seems more like a shark tank to me.”

I made the changes and sent the message. Right away I moved on to the next profile. His name was Kevin, and his profile listed his age as sixty. That was right at the top end of my age limit, but he looked so much younger and very fit and active. In fact, two of his three pictures were of him doing outdoor activities. In one shot, he clearly was on the water, and there was a wakeboard leaning against the boat beside him. The other shot included beautiful forest scenery in the background like he was on a hike.

“I like this one better than Jonathan,” Grace said before I could.

I laughed. “I was literally just thinking the same thing. I like how active he is. Right up my alley.”

My mind shot back to Luke and our day at the beach. Though he admitted he wasn’t a strong swimmer, his body was fit and mouth-watering. Clearly the guy took care of himself and enjoyed an active lifestyle. The day we’d walked the dogs at the shelter, he had no trouble keeping up with my naturally fast pace.

Stay on task, girl.

I reminded myself to stay focused and finished the message to Kevin. This reply sounded easier and more natural, and I was tempted to cut and paste it into the next reply.

The third guy that made the quick cut Grace and I did was named Brian. He was the best-looking of the original crew, with brown hair just starting to show some gray. Very sexy, strangely. Never knew I liked that vibe, but I couldn’t stop checking out his pictures.

“This guy is straight-up hot,” I muttered while staring at his photo. “What does it say for his age?” I asked my wingwoman.

She mumbled while scanning his profile until she found the information we were looking for. “Ah, here it is. Says he’s fifty-five.” She quickly looked up at the monitor and then looked at me. “He might be lying.”

“You think he looks older than that?”

“No, I think younger. He barely has any aging on his face, and that’s not the norm for guys, is it? I mean, I know there are some that take skin care seriously, but for the most part…”

“That’s odd, though,” I said, confused. “Why say you’re older than you are? Seems backwards. Doesn’t everyone want to be younger?”

“You would think,” she said. “Buuutt…”

She was spinning up another theory. My roommate should’ve majored in creative writing. She had the most vivid imagination and loved making up random strangers’ backstories just from observing them doing everyday things.

It was almost a superpower.

Grace rubbed her chin and said, “Maybe in this world, this sugar-dating world, men are insecure about being young. Like, maybe the girls will think they can’t provide the way an older guy can?”

I thought about it for a second. “Could be. I mean, it kind of makes sense. I was thinking maybe girls think they are more likely to want sex if they are younger, and from what I’ve been reading online, a lot of girls really don’t want to sleep with the guys.”

“And what about you?” Grace asked bluntly.

“What about me?” I tried playing dumb because I’d been shying away from discussing this aspect of this world with her.

“Are you open to sleeping with these men?” she pressed.

“I think if it’s where the relationship naturally progresses, then sure. Why not, right? I’m unattached, I’ve made it very clear what I’m looking for, and nowhere does it say it’s to get laid. But if I was super into a guy, like any other date.” I shrugged and paused a moment. “Then yeah, I might do it.”

She seemed satisfied with my answer, or maybe more so that I’d actually thought it through already and had a legitimate opinion on the prospect.

“Okay, I need to do this last one and then get to the pool,” I said, getting us back on task.

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