Blindly Yours

ONE

Rose

I don’t want to be here.

I should be at home wrapped in a blanket with a mocha latte in my hands. But I’m stuck at a grimy bar that has somehow managed to thrive right in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.

The place smells like cheap tequila and abandoned responsibilities. I’m surrounded by tired-looking businessmen with their ties hanging loosely from their necks and half a dozen empty beer glasses arranged haphazardly in front of them.

I’ve lived here in the city all my life and decided it was time to diverge from my worn-out weekend circuit, but this was a mistake. The reviews for this bar were wildly overstated. It was supposed to be a “hidden gem,” but there is absolutely nothing gem-like about this place. There’s badly done Sharpie graffiti on the wall next to me and an unsettling layer of film on the bar top. Oh, and I think I stepped in something gooey coming back from the bathroom.

I peer down at the heels of my Louboutins and grimace. These are Nappa leather. What a waste.

When I eye the patrons around me again, they all look like they either lost their jobs or the love of their lives.

All except one.

He’s using his misery as a bargaining tool right now.

“I’m a changed man,” he says, scooting his bar stool closer to me.

“Malcolm, please don’t…” I slowly circle my straw around the inside of my glass, disrupting mint leaves that float among the ice cubes. They’re dodging and sliding through the current I’m pulling through the vodka.

“Rose, just give me another chance.”

I suck in stale bar air and squint toward the restroom door on the far side of the establishment. Junie has been gone for maybe three minutes, but she’s failing to fulfill her best friend duties. I need my out.

This is the last place I expected to see him. When we were together, we only dined at five-star bistros and riverside cafes. If he's stooped this low, maybe he really is that miserable.

“I’ll take you on that trip to Cabo,” Malcolm continues to insist beside me, sliding his hand toward mine. “Remember? You said you were dying to go. We’ll spend a few days on a catamaran. We’ll rent a villa. We can do it all. Whatever makes you happy.”

I pull my hands to my lap and let my eyes finally drift up to his. They’re some of the bluest I’ve seen, and they struck me so intensely the first time I met him. In the sunlight, they sparkle like the water reflecting a clear sky on a summer day. But tonight, they’re more like ice, dulled by the dim lighting in this dated bar.

“I don’t want to go to Cabo,” I shake my head.

“Ok, that’s fine. Then tell me where you want to go. We can go anywhere.” He sits forward on his stool, speaking louder over the music and leaning closer to me. “Or we can stay right here in Minneapolis. That’s fine too. They’re opening that new Cartier on Seventh soon. Let me get you that bracelet I promised.”

“I don’t want the bracelet. I don’t want a trip.” I run my fingers through my hair. I spent so much time on it earlier, but now I just want to pull it up and away from my face and run home as fast as I can. I raise a brow at him. “Maybe stop trying to win me back with gifts. It’s not a good look.”

He scoots even closer. “Then, what? What can I do?”

“It’s over, Malcolm.” I eye the perfect ringlet of auburn hanging across his forehead. He always styled it purposely that way, ever since I told him how much I liked it. But that was months ago, before I finally summoned the courage to walk away.

He inches his arm toward me again. His pressed white dress shirt is rolled and cuffed around his fair-haired forearm, and his silver Rolex catches the glimmer of the colorful lights hanging from the ceiling. He slides his fingers closer until they just touch mine.

I ignore the urge to slap him away and politely pull back.

“Oh, come on, Rose,” he sighs, returning his hand to his lap. “I’ve apologized again and again. For all of it. Let’s start over.”

I shake my head as I resume stirring my drink. “No. I’ve moved on, and you should really do the same.”

It isn’t a lie. I’ve spent the last four months avoiding Malcolm at all costs, trying to wipe those sky-blue eyes from my memory. I prefer to make it look like it's been easy, but it hasn’t. Even though I was the one to end the relationship, loneliness caught me in its sticky depths quickly.

He presses his hands together between his knees and leans forward again, trying to find my eyes. “I still love you.”

At the same time, Junie appears behind him, finally back from the bathroom. I shoot her a look of distress.

As soon as she sees him, she pulls her phone from her purse and clears her throat quickly. “I forgot, I need to feed Cooper. Can we head out, Rose?”

I slide my glass away and nod as I stand, avoiding Malcolm’s penetrating gaze while I shrug my coat over my shoulders. “It’s getting late anyway.” Cooper is Junie’s two-year-old border terrier, and not her most clever excuse, but at least she tried.

“Have a good night, Malcolm,” Junie smiles lightly at him.

“Can I call you sometime, Rose?” He completely ignores her.

With an exhale, I catch him watching me with remorse, like a child who’s had his prize revoked at a fair. Because that’s all I am to him. A prize to be won. Candy for his arm.

“I have to go now.” I don’t give him the chance to respond, following Junie quickly from the bar and out into the unseasonably frigid evening April air.

We grab a waiting Uber, and once we’re settled inside, Junie turns to me with wide eyes. “What did he say?”

I massage the space between my eyebrows. “He said he still loves me.”

“The nerve.” She wrinkles her nose. “After what he did? And he thought you’d believe him? He’s delusional.”

“He just thinks he loves me.” I stare out the window as the white and red lights of passing cars slide by. “I don’t think he ever did, though.”

A beat of silence lingers before she responds quietly. “I’m sorry you did.”

I shrug and press my forehead against the glass. “Yeah, well, it was a mistake and I moved on. Can we talk about something else?”

“Ok, um.” She shuffles her purse on her lap. “Oooh, how was spa day with your mom yesterday?”

I lift my head and then let it fall heavily against the window with a thud and close my eyes. “She spent the entire time trying to convince me to get back together with Malcolm.”

“I’m sorry.” She rests her hand on my knee. “I know it’s messed up, but she just wants the best for you.”

I twist my neck to give her an incredulous glance. “Yeah, and according to her, the best is going back to the man who cheated on me. All she cares about is his last name, his family’s legacy, and the gigantic estate on Lower Lake he’s going to inherit.”

“Wait, really?” She sits forward and tucks her straight black hair behind her ear. “You never told me about the house.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, it’s huge. And his parents hardly use it. It’s insane.”

“Well, your mom wants you to be comfortable. That’s fair.”

I let out a humorless chuckle. “Yeah, I think I’d be plenty comfortable there.”

“But not with someone like Malcolm,” she confirms with a frown.

“I hardly think I have a choice,” I murmur.

Then she presses her fingers to her chin. “Well, maybe not Malcolm exactly, but I think your mom will have an aneurysm if you don’t bring home someone with a seven-figure salary.”

“And a name. And preferably a yacht,” I mumble.

She shrugs. “I mean, your parents’ favorite pastime is discussing the stock market and comparing Lamborghinis to Bugattis. Whoever you date has gotta fit in.”

I let out a huff, because she’s right.

She shifts her purse over her shoulder as we near her building. “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard your dad talk about anything else.”

“Well, thankfully, most men enjoy talking about Lamborghinis and Bugattis.” I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, but most guys don’t own both of them.” She raises an eyebrow. “It’s going to have to be someone in the same tax bracket. Otherwise, it’ll be a jab to his ego.”

I start to protest, but she continues. “Just not the one who cheated on you.”

I close my mouth and nod. As much as I hate the thought of marrying someone just for his bulging bank account, there are expectations…for both me and my brothers. My parents have built a legacy, and regretfully, their opinion matters.

The car stops in front of Junie’s building, and she turns to me once more before hopping out. “Hey, maybe you need a different approach. I just heard about this new dating app. It’s really popular right now and it’s for elite singles. It’s called Bloom. Apparently, you can filter matches by income level.”

I scrunch my nose. “They’ve really thought of everything now, haven’t they?”

She waves her hand to clear my doubt. “I know, I know. It could be a disaster, but you should give it a try.”

I regard her suspiciously as she steps out onto the sidewalk. “What kind of superficial men are gonna use an app to find a match based on income?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know, maybe the ones who are being guilted by their parents to marry rich." She raises a brow and grins. “Just try it! Let me know tomorrow how it goes! Bye!”

She shuts the car door, leaving me alone to finish the short ride to my building. And a few minutes later, I’m kicking off my heels, slumping down onto the sofa, and flicking on my electric fireplace as I let my chin fall to my chest in exhaustion. I turn the dial on the remote until the projected flames match my mood; a deep shade of blue.

Running into my cheating ex was not in my Sunday night plans. And hearing him say he still loves me was the cherry on top that I never ordered.

A flash of white crosses my peripheral and I smile for the first time tonight as a familiar warm feline climbs up onto my lap and spins around three times, pressing her small paws into my legs repeatedly until she decides on a position and sinks down to curl up.

“Hi Daisy, did you have a good day?” I scratch gently beneath her chin as her green eyes fall closed in ecstasy.

She gives a small mew and then settles in again.

I pick up my phone and open the app store. What did Junie say the app was called? I think it started with a B? I type in “dating app B” and watch as a long list of results forms in front of my eyes.

Seventy-two to be exact.

“God, how many dating apps do people need these days?” I mutter to myself as I begin to scroll down the list. None of the names look familiar, so I swipe back to the top and tap on the first. Junie said it was popular, so I figure the app store must know that too, and would feature it at the top of their list.

It loads quickly and then displays a rich purple welcome screen with the name and tagline in a swirling serif.

I swipe through the introduction slides without paying much attention. Then I begin filling out my profile.

I tap my finger on my lips and devise a clever username.

Username: ASingleRose26

Gender: Female

Location: Minneapolis

Age: 26

Are you looking to connect with men, women, or both? Men

Why did you join Blindly? Just trying something new. I’d like to say I’m here for fun, but I’m also open to something serious.

What three words would your closest friend use to describe you? Determined, loyal, approachable.

What is your ideal Sunday morning? A hot cup of coffee by the fireplace, curled up with my cat, and the latest edition of Vogue.

What is your ultimate comfort food? Pizza. All the pizza.

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? Last year, I went skydiving in Monterey.

What are you looking for in a partner? Honesty, like-mindedness, a sense of humor. But really, I’m just looking for my big spoon.

I advance to the next slide and am presented with my completed profile. A tiny green dot appears next to my username, indicating I’m online. I furrow my brow, realizing the app never asked me to upload a photo of myself. I also haven’t seen where I can select a preferred income level. I scroll through the settings, trying to figure out where to add either, and at the same time, a chime sounds. A small red number ‘1’ appears at the bottom of my screen.

“Well, that was fast.” I trace my fingers through Daisy’s fur and sit back, tapping the waiting message.

BigSpoon92 Hey there. All the pizza? Even pineapple?

The corner of my mouth turns up. Ok, so at least he read my profile. And his username is oddly appropriate. I quickly type out a response.

ASingleRose26 Absolutely. Pineapple is a must

BigSpoon92 I’ll have to give it a try sometime

ASingleRose26 You’ve never had pineapple on pizza?! Also did you tailor your username as soon as you saw my profile, or…?

BigSpoon92 Ha. I’m a classic pepperoni guy. And I’ve been around for a few weeks. They don’t let you change your username, so no, it’s completely genuine

My smile grows. If nothing else, it’s kind of amazing that my ‘big spoon’ is presenting himself so quickly.

ASingleRose26 And also completely cheesy, but I’m an excellent little spoon, so I’d say we’re off to a great start

BigSpoon92 it’s also promising that you think my cheesiness is admirable

ASingleRose26 Hey, where do we add a profile pic?

There’s a pause before his next message comes in.

BigSpoon92 photos aren’t a thing on this app. That’s kinda the purpose

I look at the name of the app again. Blindly. Then I navigate back to the app store page and check the description.

We’re told to never judge a book by its cover. So why judge a potential match that way? Blindly brings the traditional concept of blind dating to the twenty-first century. Users are restricted from sharing photos until both parties agree to the exchange. Because, after all, love is blind.

Wow, I completely skipped through all the welcome slides during the sign-up process. This is not the app Junie told me about.

Another message chimes.

BigSpoon92 It’s a weird niche, but I thought it sounded interesting, getting to know someone this way first

I regard my phone screen silently for a moment. Who would choose to use a dating app that keeps their physical appearance secret?

Unattractive people. That’s who.

Cute idea, but I immediately wonder if BigSpoon92 is secretly a sweaty, wildly out-of-shape forty-five-year-old man sitting in his parents’ basement, fingers coated in bright red Flamin’ Hot Cheeto dust.

I’ve clearly made a mistake.

ASingleRose26 Oops, I think I joined the wrong app

BigSpoon92 Which one were you looking for?

ASingleRose26 There is supposed to be one for elite singles… must have a similar name

BigSpoon92 Elite? So, do you have to meet a salary minimum for that one?

ASingleRose26 Something like that. I don’t know. I’ll have to ask my friend to remind me what it’s called

I tap Big Spoon’s username to read his bio. There must be a clue to his secret identity in there somewhere.

Username: BigSpoon92

Gender: Male

Location: Greater Minneapolis

Age: 29

Are you looking to connect with men, women, or both? Women

Why did you join Blindly? Looking for a less conventional way to meet someone. But wait, does that mean typical online dating has become conventional? I can’t keep up anymore. I’m just hoping to ditch the superficial and make a real connection.

What three words would your closest friend use to describe you? Patient, practical, stubborn

What is your ideal Sunday morning? I have a cabin up at Lake Mille Lacs which has the most vibrant sunrises. Put me at the water’s edge on a crisp morning and I’m a happy guy.

What is your ultimate comfort food? Steak and potatoes. Medium rare. Extra gravy.

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? Eight years ago, I took a solo road trip up to Alaska without an itinerary. It was the most free I’ve ever felt.

What are you looking for in a partner? Communication and honesty are at the top of the list for me. I also love a girl who’s adaptable and doesn’t take herself too seriously.

Ok, so if he owns a cabin, he probably doesn’t live with his parents. Maybe the Cheeto fingers aren’t a thing either. I’m not convinced yet, though.

Another message comes in.

BigSpoon92 You should stick around for a while. It’s a cool app

ASingleRose26 Have you met anyone?

BigSpoon92 Not yet, but I’m finding people are more genuine when they aren’t showing their face

ASingleRose26 That concept has the potential to be a complete disaster though too

BigSpoon92 Fair point. But I figure it’s worth a try, right?

I shrug at Daisy, who glances up at me and then yawns, baring her tiny sharp teeth.

“Worth a try, huh? Maybe I’ll delete it tomorrow,” I murmur.

Her eyes are already closed again as she purrs away.

ASingleRose26 I guess I’m already here. Might as well. So how did you come across Blindly?

BigSpoon92 It was the first one that came up in my search, ha

ASingleRose26 Valid method

BigSpoon92 I thought so. So what’s your cat’s name?

ASingleRose26 Daisy. She’s seven, but she thinks she’s two

BigSpoon92 A little wild one?

ASingleRose26 Usually, but she’s currently curled up on my lap pretending to be good. Do you have any pets?

BigSpoon92 I have a German Shepherd. He actually IS two. He’s a big teddy bear though

ASingleRose26 What’s his name?

BigSpoon92 Duke

ASingleRose26 Very regal

BigSpoon92 Yeah, he would be flattered if you told him that

Hey, I’ve gotta go. Talk tomorrow?

ASingleRose26 Sure, I’m at work all day, but I should be around in the evening. Goodnight!

BigSpoon92 Night, little spoon ;)

I smirk as I set my phone to the side and stroke Daisy’s ears again. I’ve almost forgotten the cold blue eyes that pleaded with me earlier tonight.

Almost.