Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Zoe
I’m just cleaning up dinner when my messages ding on the Mystery Match app.
Ready for story time? I’ll share mine if you share yours. ;-)
The fact that he put a winky face emoji makes me smile so freaking big that it’s ridiculous. I love how playful he can be in the simplest ways.
I’m getting the popcorn ready now!
OK, so I’ve only dated one girl since I’ve lived in New York.
One? Haven’t you lived here for a while?
Six years.
Whoa. How long did you date her for?
Three years. We were engaged.
And?
She was a financial adviser. We lived a good life with a small place uptown. But when I found out who she really was, I left it all behind.
Who she really was?
Let’s just say, her dealings weren’t all on the up-and-up.
Whoa! Was she stealing from her clients?
Something like that. I had no clue. Our bank accounts were separate.
I knew she was doing well, but we never really talked about just how well.
I was still paying her my half of the rent—or what I thought was my half.
I found out later she’d bought the place outright, but kept it from me because it was over a million-dollar apartment.
Are you being serious right now?
Unfortunately …
So, what happened?
A client questioned their account. Turned out, she wasn’t as slick as she’d thought she was. As soon as I found out, I packed a bag and left. She begged me to stay because it would make things look even worse for her if I wasn’t by her side, supporting her.
That must have been hard.
Devastating. We went from having the wedding planned for a month later to me couch-surfing while I figured some shit out.
Did she get in trouble?
Yeah. She’s in prison right now. I think she gets out in a year or two.
This is wild! Thank God you didn’t marry her!
Right? I had to testify and was investigated as well. It was a huge mess. I just can’t believe she’d lied all that time. I really thought I knew who she was. I was ready to spend the rest of my life with her.
How long ago was this?
Two years ago.
And you haven’t dated since?
No. Once you give your heart to someone like that, it’s hard to trust again.
I can absolutely see why you feel that way after a situation like that.
OK, that’s my sad story. Time to share yours.
Ha! Mine is nothing compared to yours. Guy cheated. We broke up. Same old story.
It’s not the same old story if it mattered to you.
When I look back now, I can see how I should have known. I wasn’t in love with him. I was in love with the idea of him.
How?
Girls want the fairy tale. He provided that in some ways, which made me overlook other things. He knew how to play the game to get what he wanted.
Dick.
LOL! Yeah, he was. I learned a lot though. Mainly to not settle.
Have you dated since him?
A little. Nothing serious. I know what—or rather, who—I’m looking for now.
So, you have standards set now. Tell me about them.
He has to have a steady job.
LOL! I would hope so! You’re not setting the bar too high if that’s at the top of your list.
That’s a big one! The last guy bounced around from job to job, and it was just too much.
OK, I get that. What else?
He has to be honest. Have God in his heart. Open to trying new things. Want to cook dinner with me. Want to have kids one day and make those kids his number one priority.
Check. Check. Check. Check and check.
I smile at how fast he came back with that reply. Before I can respond, he sends another message.
I like that you have his kids as his number one priority. That’s an important one.
I’m glad you feel that way.
I truly do. I want to have kids someday. I can’t wait to have my mini me following me around as I teach him how to be a man or my little girl who, I’ll tell you now, will have me absolutely wrapped around her finger so much so that it will be embarrassing, but I’m not afraid to admit it.
You really mean that? You’re not just feeding me lines?
To what? Get in your pants? I still don’t even know who you are!
I laugh out loud as I read his last text. I can’t believe I don’t even know who this guy is, yet I’m sitting here, sharing my entire life with him.
This is the most honest I’ve ever been with someone.
I’ve heard the term “keyboard warriors” to describe people who aren’t afraid to start shit on the internet because they can hide behind their keyboard.
Even though they tend to be more negative with things, I feel like this is something similar to that, only in a positive way.
I need to tell my friend he’s really onto something with this app.
Guilt washes over me for the stupidest reason, so I decide to come clean.
I didn’t tell you earlier, but I, too, know one of the guys behind this app …
Dots appear and disappear multiple times, and my heart starts to pound a little more as I wait for his reply.
Wait. So, you’re telling me you know who I am? Have you been hiding that this entire time?
No!!!
I get that fact out as quickly as I can while I compose my thoughts more.
I only know Joey. He said he’s only met you once and would not give me any more information.
Joey? Is that the guy who works at the bar?
Yeah. He’s my best friend’s brother.
Then you tried to find out who I was?
Hell yes, I did! He said I was going against the entire reason for the app by trying to find out who you were. Blah. Blah. Blah. But then he said he honestly didn’t know much more about you.
I’m glad he didn’t.
Why is that?
Because I like this. Getting to know each other on the same playing field. It wouldn’t be fair if you knew who I was and I didn’t know who you were.
Do you always play fair?
I try to at least …