Page 16 of Partner Pursuit
“Yes.” Wasn’t he sweating in that Lycra suit? Not much was left to the imagination.
“Are you ready to go? Your bike doesn’t look like it goes very fast,” hesaid.
“No, but it’s dependable.”
“Perhaps we should meet up? I want to get in a good workout. I like to be efficient with these things. Want to meet up by the boathouse and we can get a drink there?”
Flustered and surprised, she said, “Um, Iguess so.”
“Okay, see you there.”
Dan quickly bicycled outof sight.
She texted Eve:Date infull-bodyblack Speedo!?
Eve:Does he look good? How are you biking and texting me? While ondate?
Audrey snorted. She started to text a reply and then decided it would be easier to explain by callingEve.
“Not that good. He’s bicycled off so he gets his workout. We’re meeting at the boathouse,” she said as she wheeled her bike down to the bike path with one hand on the handlebars.
“Are you serious? What kind of a date is that? Why didn’t he just work out beforehand?”
“He likes to be efficient.”
“Efficient? I’m not even going to go into how nuts that sounds. Well, at least you’re getting drinks at the boathouse—that should give you time to talk, if you still have any interest. Oh, man, gotta go. Stop by later and give me all the gorydetails.”
Audrey bicycled up to the boathouse. No Dan at the boathouse entrance. Out of the corner of her eye, someone was vigorously waving. Dan. He was sitting on a bench on the other side oftheroad.
“Over here,” he said. She biked over tohim.
“There’s a vendor over there who sells water if you’re thirsty.” He pointed to the vendor. “I already got mine.” She should continue biking, but she had a morbid curiosity to see what he was going to say. She bought herself a water bottle and sat next to Dan onthe bench.
“So, what are your interests other than spin class? Do you do any other sports?”he asked.
“Not anymore,” she said.“Doyou?”
“Flyfishing.”
Was fly fishing a sport?
“I am hugely into fly fishing, and biking, of course.” He leaned back against the bench. “I’m kind of into those solitary sports—you know—man on his own. I’m kind of like amonk.”
“Interesting.” He hadn’t mentioned that he aspired to be a monk in his profile. And she had definitely written she was seeking someone outgoing. Any online chemistry had disappeared. She searched for something to say as she sipped her water. “So, where do you go flyfishing?”
“Up in the Catskills. Have you ever been flyfishing?”
“No.”
“It takes enormous skill and strategy. And patience. I’ve got this amazing collection of fishing lures.”
“How does thatwork?”
“Different lures attract different fish. It’s really an art form.” He took a gulp of his water. “Finished your water? I want to do another turn round the park. It was great meeting you. Maybe we can get together again sometime. I’m going to afly-fishinglecture next week on Wednesday, if you’d like tojoin me.”
“I’ve got to work late that night.” She was not wasting any more of her free time on this guy. Not when she could have been biking with Jake. What adisaster.
“Okay, well, maybe I’ll see you on the loop around.” Dan bicycled off, and she bicycledhome.
