Page 5 of Recklessly You
After that, I decided no more relationships. I downloaded all these dating apps, figuring, why not? Meet new people, date casually, just get to know another person without the pressure of a relationship. It would be fun, right?
Wrong. Last week’s date was a failure. He canceled an hour before we were supposed to meet. Before him, I dated a guy for two months. I wouldn’t call what Ryder and I were doing dating, though. We were definitely notan item. He was sweet, kind, and sexy, but he wanted serious, and that’s not what I wanted. I couldn’t see myself marrying him or going farther.
I reach for my keys from the counter when my adorable nephew Dante, startles me.
“Where are you going, auntie?” Drops of sweat glisten on his face. He’s dressed up in his Spider-Man costume. He’s an avid admirer of Spider-Man, and he has memorized all the lines from the first three movies. So, have I. Unfortunately.
“Out with a friend,” I say as Mila, my best friend and roommate, enters the room. Dante makes his way back to the living room.
“Who’s the guy?” she asks.
I press my lips together. She’s not keen on me going out with strangers I’ve met on dating sites. She watches too muchDateline. And, well, she knows I’m not the type to go on dating sites. Until now, of course.
“Kirk.”
Her forehead creases. “Is he cute?”
“Y-yeah,” I say, with little enthusiasm.
“You don’t sound too excited. Are you nervous?”
I sigh. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Mila. I feel like I can’t find my place. Eric really fucked me up.”
She glowers and shakes her head as she grabs a water bottle from the fridge.
“I hate Eric. He was always such an asshole,” she murmurs as she sips. “You and Eric dated for a little over three years. It’s normal you’re still hurting even though you broke up months ago. You’ll get there. He never deserved you, Sophie.”
“I know, and I’m over him.”
She narrows her green eyes at me, wanting to call me out on my bluff. Instead, she says, “Have a great time with Kermit.”
I shake my head, chuckling.
* * *
I parkmy car at Eddie’s Seafood and Steakhouse, and my phone pings again.Eric. I put the phone on silent. Asshole has some nerve calling me. Opening the speed dating app, I glance at Kirk’s profile once more before getting out of the car. I exhale, long and slow, and my breath fogs the cold air.
My eyes widen when I spot Kirk. He looks up and smiles widely. Kirk seems utterly different from the photo he posted on his profile. He looks older. Maybe mid-thirties. I’m positive I read he was in his twenties. He must have used a picture from when he was younger. He has sandy brown hair and bags under his eyes, and he is a little too polished for my liking. And he’s wearing penny loafers.
“Hi, Sophie, nice to meet you. God, you look beautiful. More so in person.” He licks his lips and yanks me into a hug.
The smell of Brut cologne stings my nose. I push from his hold, brushing my fingers under my nose, getting a whiff of my coconut lotion. The cloying scent of Brut wafts around us.
“Hey, Kirk. Nice to meet you. Should we go inside?”
He guides me in as the host seats us. God, he smells like my granddad—a major turn-off. My granddad practicallybathesin Brut. My grandma would say he smells manly. Sorry, Grandma, but Brut smells like skunk pee.
“You look different, Kirk. Nothing like your photo,” I say, honestly, as he pulls out a chair for me.
He picks up the menu and flips through it. “How about an appetizer?” He’s nonchalantly ignoring my statement.
I press my lips together and hold my breath as long as I can. His cologne is making my eyes water and my throat burn. I exhale. “Sure. Sounds good.”
The waitress takes our drink order, then Kirk says, “So, tell me, Sophie, what do you do for a living?” He scoots his chair closer to me.
Oh, God, no.
“My best friend Mila and I own a photography studio,” I respond, my smile stretched with pride. The waitress returns with our drinks. Thank God. I reach for mine and take a gulp. My throat stings like a mother-fucker. “What do you do?”
