Page 4 of The Vivacious Valentine

Viviana’s eyes widened, and she sat up straight, looking around them to make sure nobody overheard. “Candy! Shut up! I don’t need patients, or anyone for that matter, knowing about my sex life.”

“There is nothing to report . . . or wait, is there something to report?” Candy’s mouth fell open and her eyebrows rose. “Do you have something to tell me?”

“Ugh. No! But that’s not the point. Just shut it. I don’t need anyone at myjobknowing my business either way.”

“Okay, okay. But I’m not wrong.” Candy jumped up from her seat before Viviana could smack her arm. “I’ll text you later. I have to go finish my shift on the fourth floor; I’m covering for someone. Tonight, eight p.m.”

“Eight. Got it.”

* * *

Eight p.m. rolled around, and Viviana stepped out of the Uber in front of the Scenic View Social Club, the newest bar and lounge downtown. Viviana mused at the name, since the location did not offer a scenic view, or the infamous El Paso scenic view most people referred to with the name. It was mostly just another dark bar, but it did boast there were to be themed nights, and other fun events, so she was looking forward to checking it out with her bestie.

Not a moment later, Candy stepped out of an Uber herself, and arm in arm they walked into the new bar. After they’d found spots at the long, oak bar and ordered some vintage sounding cocktails, they settled in to observe the room.

“Not a lot of eye candy tonight,” Candy said.

“Well, it is a soft opening, right?” Viviana asked.

“Yeah. Maybe this weekend it’ll be a little more hoppin’. But actually this gives us some time to chat. I really think you should consider getting on the apps.”

“Ugh. You remember what happened last time?”

“Okay, yes, that was before this new app I found calledConnect. It’s like some of the others but I feel like there’s a lot less creeps on there, and I’ve even made some just friends connections. Like people I would hang out with and do stuff, non-romantically.”

Viviana wasn’t convinced dating apps were the way to go. As much as she did want to meet someone, and even getting laid would be nice, the last time she dipped her toe into the dating app pool she was bombarded with guys who just wanted to smash and couldn’t even pretend to carry on a conversation.At least make some attempt to intellectually seduce me. In any event, she was hesitant at best, but decided to hear her friend out.

“Are you bullshitting me, or have you actually been using this app? Because I’m looking around, and you’re here with me, not some new love . . .” Viviana teased her friend knowing full well Candy wasn’t interested in a relationship any time soon.

“Would I bullshit you?” Candy laughed.

“You would.” Viviana giggled back.

“I have used it. I swear. So far, there’s not a ton of people on it locally, so it’s not filled with all the same douchebags the others are. You know how that is, and I know that’s why you don’t want to do it. But I’m telling you . . . Viv, it’s time. You broke up with small dick like a year and a half ago, it’s time. There’s someone better out there for you, but they’re not gonna drop out of the sky and fall into your living room.” Candy gave Vivian a soft smile and placed her hand on Viviana’s knee. “Maybe the first guy, or guys, won’t be the one, but you gotta put yourself back out there. You know I’m right.”

“Part of me wants to tell you to pound sand, but I know you’re sort of right. I don’t want to be alone forever, but the apps are just so . . . arduous.” Viviana knew her best chance at meeting someone would be by putting herself in the game. Hoping someone would show up at work or something was not exactly a winning game.

“They don’t have to be. Get your phone out right now. Let’s put your profile together and see who you match with.”

With squinted eyes and pursed lips, she pulled her phone from her bag and downloaded the app. The girls put together a profile for Viviana that showed a hot, single nurse who could take care of herself, but was open to meeting new people, and potentially more. This was the best Viviana could do; she didn’t want to seem desperate for a relationship, or so indifferent all she got were requests for one night stands.

Once they were satisfied with her profile, Viviana put her phone face down on the bar, ordered them their customary second and last cocktails of the evening since it was mid-week, and she put dating, apps, and men out of her mind while enjoying the time she had with her friend.

ChapterThree

Chris

“How’s the search going?” Jake asked Chris while they sat down to dinner with their parents about a week after the lost bet.

Chris had hoped he wouldn’t have to follow through, but there was no backing out, even if he lost the bet on what he felt was a technicality and deserved an asterisk for the record at the very least. He’d be planning his payback sooner rather than later. While he had signed up for an app, it was a newer one calledConnect, and claimed to be a better way to meet local singles by matching them up with similar interests in the general vicinity they lived in.

Thus far, Chris had matched up with almost thirty women, not a single one did he have any real interest in. Besides the fact his heart wasn’t in it, Chris really felt like it was the Wild West out there, and the whole process gave him a little more anxiety than he cared to admit. He knew plenty of his single friends were hooking up with women they met online, but not only was a one-night stand something he wasn’t particularly interested in, it would also not fulfill the debt owed on the lost bet.

“What search?” their mom, Maria, asked. “Are you looking for a new job? I thought you liked what you were doing.”

“I’m not looking for a new job, Mom,” Chris replied, and shot his brother a glare so hot it could melt glass.

“A new car?” their father chimed in. “Didn’t you just get that truck of yours tuned up?”

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