Page 11 of Confessions of a Virgin on a Dating App
Maybe Tristan would be that guy.
Chapter 3
The butterflies remained, flapping and jostling around in my stomach, in the hours leading up to the date. Not long after I showered, Cassidy knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to go grocery shopping. It was our roommate tradition—wandering down the aisles, wheeling the cart along, stocking up both on food and gossip. So, I happily agreed.
Cassidy weaseled the news out of me while we were in my Camry, and asked me a million questions about my newfound love interest while we shopped. I answered most of them cheerfully, but when Cass started asking more personal questions, I could feel my cheeks start to burn.
“And remember,” Cassidy grinned as I scanned the coffee aisle, eager to find a dark roast that wasn’t too bitter. “If you two ever need some alone time… just let me know. I’ll slip out of the townhouse for a few hours.”
“Cass!” I whisper-yelled under my breath, practically throwing the bag of Orange Blossom French Roast into our cart. I could feel that my face was on fire.
“What?” she asked innocently. “It’ll come up eventually. You always gave me privacy when my ex was over.”
I pushed the cart forward, refusing to make eye contact with Cassidy as my stomach clenched. “It’s too early for that. I haven’t even met the guy.”
“He’s hot, though.”
“He’s hot in his photos. There’s a difference.”
“And what if he’s hot in real life too? What if you decide to—?”
“Cass,” I replied flatly, through gritted teeth. “I’m not talking about this in the middle of a grocery store. Let’s have this conversationafterI’ve had a few dates with the guy.”
“Whatever you say,” she replied, a devious grin on her face.
Once we returned home, we put the groceries away, made a quick lunch of peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and retreated to our separate rooms.
Mine felt like it was closing in on me as I sat on the bed, phone in hand. It was 3 p.m., meaning I had two and a half hours to kill before I left for my date with Tristan.
Normally, any free time would be spent playing video games, but after about thirty minutes ofStardew Valley,I became too restless to sit in my cushy gaming chair. I racked my brain for any more errands that I needed to run; anything to get me out of the house and keep my mind from fretting over my upcoming date.
I eventually decided on the nearby pet store, but I entered the place feeling like an idiot. I had no pets, and therefore no need for any food, treats, or other supplies. But I was a huge animal lover, and while finances were often tight at our townhouse, I’d always dreamed of having a companion.
But as cute as the rescue puppies and kittens in the displays at the front of the shop were, they weren’t theanimals that interested me. Instead, I wandered to the back of the store, able to smell them long before I could see them.
I knew people often turned their noses up at ferrets, but I had been enchanted by the wiggly little cat snakes since I was a teenager. There were two in the enclosure—an albino male and a dark sable female—and they immediately perked up and hopped towards me as I approached. I lowered my hand into the enclosure, and the pair clamored up my arm, their tiny claws leaving little white lines on my wrist as they begged to be held.
I scooped up the female, holding her close to my chest and breathing in her scent. Ferrets certainly were musky, but their smell had never bothered me.
I hung out with the ferrets for a half-hour and spent another half-hour wandering around admiring the fish tanks. Since it was a Saturday, the store was packed, and the staff didn’t seem to mind a lonely young woman lingering around and interacting with their animals.
But as soon as my phone showed 4:30 pm, I scampered out of the pet store and made my way home.
Forty-five minutes later, after another quick shower to ensure I’d gotten all the ferret scent off my body, I stood hopelessly in front of the bathroom mirror, flat iron in hand. I had debated straightening my hair, but not long after I’d plugged the iron in, I decided against it. I usually wore my hair in its natural, curly state, so I figured it would be best to let Tristan meet me that way.
Prior to struggling with my hair, I’d spent twenty minutes laying multiple outfits on my tiny twin bed, torn on what to wear.Nothing too formal, but not too casual either. Should I dress cute? Sexy? How sexy is too sexy?
I eventually decided on an emerald-green dress with stretchy fabric that hugged my chest and waist before cascading into a flowy skirt. I paired it with strappy brownsandals and a little sterling silver dragon necklace that Cassidy gave me years ago.
Finally, at 5:30 pm, I was ready to leave.
Tristan lived in Oviedo, close to the university where he worked as a financial aid assistant. I lived near downtown Orlando, about thirty minutes away, but I didn’t mind driving to his area to meet.
Oviedo was a unique place, once the “rural” part of Orlando now overtaken by student housing and college bars. There were still unique bits of its history left though, and I drove past a few farms with squabbling chickens and grazing horses on my way there.
I paused for a few minutes after pulling into the parking lot at Mulligan’s, enjoying a few brief moments of silence with my ignition turned off. There was a low rumble of voices in the distance – the pub was already packed, but it looked like most of the outdoor seating was still open. It was an unusually cool night for a Florida summer, with the temperature and humidity dropping enough to make the evening air bearable for outdoor activities. I enjoyed the way it soaked into my skin as I exited the car and stepped toward the pub.
At first, I thought I’d made it there before him. Which I always hated, because it meant I had to stand around fidgeting with my thumbs while my heart pounded with anticipation. But upon entering the crowded pub, I heard an unfamiliar voice shout my name.
