Page 64 of Curvy Girl Summer

I cleared my throat at the sobering reminder. “Agreed.”

“So, who’s next on the roster?”

“Girl, I haven’t even opened the app again. I just needed a break.”

“I get that.” She paused contemplatively. “But didn’t you say you wanted a date for your birthday?”

“I did. But like I told Nina, I can’t do the bullshit on the apps. I want to meet someone organically.”

“But let’s be for real, Aaliyah. The men on the apps are the same men who are out in the streets. They are the same.”

I groaned. “I know you’re right, but, girl… where are the normal ones?”

“I’ll tell you where they aren’t—this small-ass town I call home,” she grumbled.

“You missing the city?”

“Hell yeah! It’s been made painfully clear to me why I left home and never looked back.”

“Aww, I’m sorry, girl. How much more do you have to do at the house?”

She grumbled under her breath, but I couldn’t make out her response.

“Are there any men at that bar where you’ve been meeting your dates?” she asked, changing the subject.

Nodding in understanding, I rolled with it.

“I haven’t noticed anyone at the bar,” I answered.

“Hmm.”

Looking at the Bluetooth speaker as if we could see each other, I made a face. “What? What’s that noise supposed to mean?”

“I mean, you’re looking for a man to lock it down with this summer, and you’ve been spending time in a bar not noticing the men in there. That seems counterproductive.”

“Because I’m on dates with other men.”

“I mean…” She stretched the word out skeptically.

“What?”

“You said you get to the bar early and you stay after the date ends.”

“Yeah, but…” I cleared my throat. “You’re right.”

“So, if you’re not trying to be on the app and you’re not looking around in real-life settings, what are you doing?”

I groaned. “I don’t know.”

“You need help,” she giggled.

Her words mimicked Ahmad’s, and I shifted uncomfortably.

“I don’t need help! Why does everyone think I need help? It’s these men on the dates that need help!”

“Oh, believe me, I know,” Jazmyn agreed. “I just want you to get what you want—whatever that is. And if you’re not on the apps and not looking around at the bar and not wanting to be set up, maybe you need to go out and see what’s up.”

I was quiet for a moment. “Well, I did go out on Saturday night. Ahmad invited me out with him and his friends.”

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