Chapter 1 #2
“Yeah… I’m going to head out,” I repeated, stifling a laugh.
Giving them a big hug, I said goodbye and exited my childhood home. They walked me out, then stood on the porch watching me as I backed down the driveway.
I looked like a younger, bigger version of my mother—syrup-brown skin, thick head of hair, extra-wide smile, and dark, almond-shaped eyes.
She was stunning, quick-witted, and had lots of style.
And while I might’ve looked like mother, I got my work ethic and business acumen from my father.
He worked hard to create a life he was proud of and on his own terms. He used his resources and ingenuity to build wealth and grow his company from the ground up.
Together, I was the perfect combination of my mom’s straightforwardness and beauty and my dad’s hustle and charm.
Pulling away from the large brick home with the manicured lawn, I waved to my blissfully in love parents.
As I made my way out of the gated community in the Northern Virginia suburbs, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d ever have what they had.
It sounded good and looked good on paper.
But it was unrealistic to think one man was going to fulfill all my needs.
Unrealistic and a lot less fun.
As if she heard the thought, my best friend called.
“Nina!” Aaliyah James cried as soon as I answered the call.
“What’s wrong?” I answered, navigating my way toward the highway.
“I’m done with dating. Done!”
I laughed. “What happened?”
“This man sent me a message a few days ago and we were making small talk. I wasn’t sold on him enough to agree to a date, but I entertained the conversation.
Today I got a message from his wife stating that she was surprised to find a dating app on his phone and let me know he’d be available in six months because she’s divorcing him. ”
“You dodged a bullet,” I told her. “So really, this is a win.”
“A win?” she screeched, causing me to snicker. “How is this a win?”
“Because it means that you don’t have to waste your time with him and it frees your schedule for someone like that sexy-ass bartender—”
“Absolutely not! That’s not going to happen,” she interrupted me.
“It should…” I replied in a singsong tone.
“I don’t know how you do this. How do you keep going on dates? I mean, seriously, how are you going on a date after last night?”
Last night, I’d planned to meet up with this light-skinned, green-eyed man with pretty teeth, but he didn’t show up. We were supposed to get drinks before I went to the India Davis concert with Aaliyah. I waited for twenty minutes and then left.
“It was supposed to be a first meetup,” I explained. “There were no feelings or emotions involved. He blew his opportunity, so he’s blocked and doesn’t get another chance to waste my time. And him not showing up worked out because I got to spend more time with you at the concert. Win-win.”
“But my real question is how do you have the emotional bandwidth to keep dating after bullshit keeps happening? Howwwwww?”
“Because I’m having fun,” I answered with a laugh. “And when I’m not having fun or when I’m ready to end the situation, I end it. It’s really that simple.”
“Each time one of these dates doesn’t work out, I’m ready to stop trying altogether.”
“Do not let someone else’s bullshit stand in the way of what you want.”
“You’re right. I’m just… frustrated.” She sighed. “Enough about me. When is your date?”
“I’m on my way to meet him now,” I told her.
“And which one is this? The one you like?”
“Who?”
“The Fun One.”
My lip quirked up. Pushing down the feeling the thought of him stirred inside me, I replied, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You know exactly what I mean.” She sighed dramatically. “That’s the one you get excited about. That’s how I know you like him.”
“I like them all,” I corrected her.
She giggled. “Something is wrong with you.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me,” I told her. “I’m doing dating right.”
My dating roster consisted of four primary men.
Russ was The Fun One and as his nickname indicated, we had fun and did exciting things together.
James, The Funny One, made me laugh so hard the entire time we were together.
Dru was probably the sweetest and most romantic man I’d ever met.
And Tyrell, The Smart One, was so informed and knowledgeable.
The four of them made the perfect man, so I didn’t have to worry about not getting what I wanted out of the situation.
I had all the bases covered. They each had their own lane.
They didn’t have to be anything other than what they naturally were.
They didn’t feel any pressure; I didn’t feel any pressure.
We played our parts and enjoyed our roles.
There was a lot of freedom in not having expectations.
“Yeah,” she sighed. “I mean, you’re clearly doing it better than me. I can’t find one I like, and you like them all.”
“Scouting takes time.”
“I’m running out of time.”
“You’re being dramatic. But seriously, it took time and effort to build a solid roster.”
“So, since you have… let me think, Dru, Tyrell, James, and Russ, why are you still on the dating app?”
“Because scouting has to take place year-round. I’m still open to adding to the team. Anyone can get cut at any time, and I have to be on the waiver wire to pick up new talent. It’s always draft season, boo!”
Light laughter rang from her end of the line. “You know you almost lost me with the sports metaphor, but I get your point.”
“Well, then, get back out there and stop letting one bad date—”
“It’s been more than one,” she interjected.
“Don’t let a series of bad dates keep you from doing what you want to do. If I’d let a bad date keep me down, I wouldn’t have the elite starting four that I have now.”
“How do you have the time and energy?”
“I only spend time with people I enjoy. I only do things I want to do. I only have sex with people who get me off. So, my time is never wasted, and my energy stays high.”
“If I don’t have a man by my thirtieth birthday, I’m going to start living my life like you.”
“You’d be a lot less stressed if you did,” I confirmed. “And you would actually enjoy dating. You’re so focused on finding a man. You’re not enjoying the men.”
She laughed. “You’re right. You’re right. You found four good ones—”
“Four and a possible,” I interjected. “Someone slid into my DMs, and I might let him take me out, too.”
“See? I love this for you. I can’t find one worthy of a second date and you’ve found a roster full of eligible men.”
“Yeah, but each serves a purpose. It’s easier to find exactly what I’m looking for when I’m looking for it in different men.”
“What are you going to do when you find that one man who has everything?”
“One man?” I scoffed. “Nah. Not gonna happen.”
“You know you believe in love,” she argued.
“I absolutely believe in love. I spent my life witnessing love.”
“So, you really don’t want what your parents have? What my parents have?”
“Only if I found everything I wanted and needed in one man. And let’s be real… that’s not going to happen.”
“It could,” she argued.
I knew that she hoped it would happen for me because she needed to believe it would happen for her. And I knew why it was so important to her, so I let her down gently. “It’s very unlikely.”
“But it’s still a possibility. You can’t say never.”
“Yes, fine. It’s a possibility,” I relented. “An unlikely possibility.”
“But a possibility, nonetheless. My work here is done!”
She sounded pleased with herself, and I laughed.
“No, but seriously, I’m curious how you’re going to handle it when you meet your match,” she mused.
“You’re talking about meeting a man so perfect for me that I’d drop all the men I’m dating now.” I shook my head as I switched lanes. “That’s funny.”
“Why is that funny? You’ve basically done that with The Fun One over the last couple of months.”
“I have not!” I argued indignantly.
While that realization got under my skin, she had a point.
I had such a good time with The Fun One that whenever he was in town, I made time.
Any opportunity to spend a couple days with him, I took.
It wasn’t just the sex—although the sex was incredible.
It was the way he lived in the moment with me and experienced life with me.
He challenged me and explored my mind and my body.
He spoiled me with time and attention as much as he did with money and adventure.
While I had no intention of admitting it, he was my favorite.
“You’ve prioritized him because he’s your favorite,” Aaliyah teased.
With wide eyes and a tight grip on the steering wheel, I shifted the conversation since I couldn’t deny her claims. “Let me tell you something… over the last few weeks I’ve gone to a festival, watched an improv group, taken a salsa lesson, attended an art gallery opening, got my oil changed and my tires rotated, went to a live taping of a show, and took a boat ride across the lake just to end up at a picnic specifically created for me. You can’t get all that with one man.”
“I can’t even get one of that with one man,” she whined jokingly.
I laughed along with her. “Dating is what you make it.”
“So what’s The Fun One’s name again?”
“Russ,” I answered.
“Yes, Russ. The traveling businessman. What exactly does he do?”
“We don’t talk about work. We focus on fun. But I do know that he travels, and he handles business. So that’s why I call him a traveling businessman.”
She laughed. “No details, just vibes.”
“The only one who talks to me about work is The Funny One and that’s because he’s hilarious and he wants to be a stand-up comedian. So, it makes sense for us to talk about it. The Fun One…” I smiled, thinking about him. “We decided on the first date to talk about who we are, not what we do.”
“Interesting…” she responded suspiciously. “When are you seeing him again?”
“Tomorrow.”
“And tonight you’re going out with who?”
“The Smart One. We’re going to a lecture.”