Page 32 of We Met Like This
She nodded toward my phone. “His message.” When I didn’t protest, she chuckled, then stood, pointing to her outfit—some orange cropped corduroy pants, a white boho-style V-neck, and some black strappy sandals—and turned in a slow circle. “This is how you dress to meet someone. Take note.” With that, she picked up her phone, blew me a kiss, and headed toward the hall. “I have some work calls to make.”
“On a Saturday?”
“I know. I’m such a dedicated boss.”
“If that’s what you want to call it.”
After she left, I stared back at the cryptic message. Had he seen me? I thought I’d ducked in time.
Maybe?I texted back.
Perhaps the question should be: did you see me?
I grunted. He wasn’t going to let this slide.If you saw me then you know why I would make sure I didn’t see you.
No… actually, I have no idea why.
I let out a breathy laugh.That’s nice, but three people today told me I looked like garbage so I know you’re lying.
What kind of friends do you have?
One was a little girl. And they are known to be the most honest demographic on earth.
Are there actual studies supporting this?
I adjusted the throw pillow that was digging into my lower back and typed:If there aren’t, there should be.
So the lack of acknowledgment had nothing to do with me and everything to do with you in a cute baseball cap?
I sighed, then typed:You did see me. But you were on a date. I wasn’t going to interrupt your date.
I really wish you would’ve, he responded.
That bad?
Yes.
I had a bad date today too.
Oh yeah?
Yes, with my sister. The second person to tell me I looked terrible.
And the third?he asked.
My roommate, Sloane.
And to think if I had seen you for more than half a second, I could’ve been the fourth. You took that privilege away from me.
I snapped a quick selfie—hat, wrinkly shirt, and all—and sent it to him before I changed my mind.
His response:Terrible. I can’t believe you left the house like that.
Right?
No, but in all seriousness, you look gorgeous.
My heart fluttered in my chest. “Down, girl, down,” I said. But to him I wrote:Didn’t I tell you no generic compliments before a first date?
