Page 87 of Elevator Pitch

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Seylah

Brooklyn, NY | January 19, 2024

I scream internallythe entire Uber ride. By the time I arrive I don’t even remember the name of the man I’m supposed to meet. I pull up his profile to jog my memory before entering the restaurant. His name is Aaron. I’m greeted by the hostess and share the name on the reservation. She smiles brightly and leads me to the table where my date awaits.

He looks nothing like his profile photo. He’s not unattractive, but he surely isn’t the man in the pictures. Which makes me very uneasy.

Strike One.

I’m tempted to go back the way I came until he spots me. His brows raise and he flashes a smile.

“Sup,” he says, greeting me with a fist bump before I seat myself. I do not hide how unimpressed I am as I take my seat. I observe his eyes track the hostess’ ass as she pads toward the front of the house. He reeks of vodka and I assume he hit the bar first. Seriously, he smells like he washed his ass with rubbing alcohol. I hold my breath and try not to vomit at the table. My stomach turns instantly.Strike two.

He can’t pronounce my name, nor does he try to.Sea-luhhis as good as it gets, I guess. He barely speaks, so I carry the conversation for a bit before I use my dinner as an excuse to be quiet. Thankfully, the food is amazing, so it’s a distraction. He starts giving his undivided attention to his phone, grinning and chuckling while clutching onto it.

He chews with his mouth open, and the sound is both infuriating and disgusting. He eventually remembers I’m present and starts asking me questions about myself.

“So, what do you do?” he asks with a mouthful of ribs, barbecue sauce on his face.

He looks like a child. Smacking his lips, talking with his mouth full, and wearing his meal. The third strike is impending, and a part of me is curious how he’ll earn it.

“I’ll wait until you’re done chewing,” I say with a polite smile.

His expression shifts to annoyance. I don’t give a fuck.

If he thinks he can be ruder than me, he’s sorely mistaken.

He eventually sets his phone on the table to get wipes for his hands. I excuse myself to the restroom and take a glance as I pass by. It’s open to theSoulBlendapp.He’sliterallytalking to a match right now, but I choose silence over violence. Instead, I fire off a text to the group chat, asking one of them to call me with an emergency in the next ten minutes. They send thumbs up reactions and I return to my seat.

He’s still engrossed in that phone and I take a few more bites of my food as I wait for the ‘emergency call.’ Another hell date for the books.

I won’t say that Greyson is in my head, though I can’t help but think about his first date and how unique it was. It was easy and natural, giving me just enough of himself to pique my interest. He set a goal to captivate me before even seeing my face.

Should I have gone out with him instead?

I could have if I weren’t avoiding him and keeping things short since our last encounter.

Our last attempt at a ‘date’ ended with him dining between my legs. His fingers and tongue explored me. He praised me in ways I never knew I craved. I recall how good he looked on his knees forme,committing me to memory. It was a fleeting moment, a fantasy, a wish come true. Like it never happened,but it did.

It could happen again if you’d give him your answer.

Aaron pulls me from my thoughts, asking me if I’m alright. I assure him that everything’s fine and reengage with him, tossing thoughts of my hot neighbor aside. That is until I notice a man with a familiar build step through the doors of the restaurant. It’s Greyson, in the flesh, as if I conjured him with my mind. He walks up to the hostess and says something before his eyes search the room. My heartbeat thumps in my ears and my pulse quickens.

He couldn’t be here for me.

If this is how I react at the sight of him, then I’m out with the wrong guy.

We’ll unpack that later.

When our eyes meet, a wide smile stretches across his face. He places his hand over his chest with a sigh of relief. He pulls out his phone and starts typing. I then feel my phone buzz in my clutch. He continues typing and I retrieve it. I glance down and see three texts from Greyson.

Smell Good Man

Do you need saving?

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