Page 20 of Confessions of a Virgin on a Dating App
Chapter 6
My Sunday night was a restless one, spent tossing and turning in bed as I fretted about Anthony. I’d had plenty of lackluster dates that resulted in rejection, but this was the first time I’d had someone try tostalkme.
I still had no idea how he knew I was at Critical Games. I reassured myself by saying he just happened to show up at the right time, and he hadn’t somehow managed to track my movements. And as I lay restless in bed, anxiety gripping my chest, the risks of online dating that I’d once been oblivious to now haunted me.
As a result, I started the next morning with exhaustion, a pounding headache, and blurry double vision. The words of the manuscript I’d been editing smeared together in a jumbled, inky mess, and not even two cups of coffee could shake my fatigue.
But I loved my job, constantly immersed in manuscripts, typesets, and cover designs, and I knew how to fight fatigue from years of god-awful periods. So I slogged through theday, reminding myself that I only had four left until the weekend returned and I could see Tristan again.
I grinned as I took a break and laid down on my bed. Working from home had its perks.
Over the following days, both my physical and mental state improved. I hadn’t heard a word from Anthony since the game shop incident, which reassured me that Devin had scared him off for good. I had to admit that Devin was intimidating. He wasn’t particularly muscular or tall, but his tattoos, facial piercings, and preference for all-black everything made many people balk at his appearance. I had too when I first met him, but over the years I realized that he was a kind, genuine person, if a bit obnoxious.
Friday came around as it did every week, although it seemed to take much longer than usual. I knew it was a side effect of anticipation—becoming painfully aware of every passing minute until an hour felt like an eternity. Friday was TCG Night, which was one of my favorite hobbies and something I looked forward to at the beginning of every weekend.
But this Friday was also my second date with Tristan. We had texted sporadically throughout the week and agreed to meet at a video game bar downtown. I initially assumed that I’d have to pass on TCG Night, but when we agreed on 8 p.m., I realized I would have enough time for a single round.
I exhaled sharply out of my mouth as I slid my laptop shut at 5 p.m., relieved that for the fourth weekend in a row, I didn’t have to work overtime. It had kept me from regularly attendingCreatures & Crypts, and it made it tough to schedule weekend activities with my friends.
Plus, it made dating difficult.
But we’d hired a new staff member, which meant we weren’t overloaded with manuscripts for the foreseeablefuture. I had my weekends back, and at that moment, I was eager to spend some of it with Tristan.
I was buzzing with anticipation when I arrived at Critical Games an hour later. As usual, Devin greeted me and rang up my gaming fee, but I hardly paid him any attention. I was excited for TCG Night, but I was even more excited about what awaited me afterward.
“Hey Avery?”
I looked up, alarmed at the seriousness of Devin’s tone. He had also referred to me by my full name, like he had done during my encounter with Anthony.
“Uh, yes?”
“I know this is awkward, but…” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, scratching his shaggy black hair. “Please be careful, okay?”
“With what?”
“You know…all this online dating stuff. I grabbed some shots of that redhead from the security cameras, and I told my staff that he’s banned from the shop. But I just…I don’t want anything bad to happen.”
I sighed. “Devin, you’re not my dad.”
Devin’s expression sharpened. “No. But I am your friend. I care about you, and your safety. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
As much as I hated it, Devin was right. I tended to wear my heart on my sleeve, diving headfirst into the dating pool without checking the depth first. I wasn’t stupid; I knew there were weirdos and creeps out there. But I knew what I was getting into the first day I downloaded the app, and if online dating allowed me to find a partner who wouldn’t judge my sexual shortcomings, it was worth the risk.
But that didn’t stop Devin’s words from knocking around my skull, making my heart thump in erratic, irrational ways.
I am your friend. I care about you.
And I hated every emotion it made me feel.
“Yeah yeah, you’re right,” I sighed. “I’ll be careful.”
“Thank you.” There was a hint of relief in Devin’s words as he handed me my receipt. “I hope you have fun tonight.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Cassidy and Aaron ushered me into a chair next to them as we waited for pairings to start. The three of us were placed in a pod with Chris, another regular who was good friends with Aaron. Cassidy was thrilled to play her new dinosaur-themed deck, and I had just added some new cards to my warrior deck.
But unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for either of us to win. Chris and Cassidy took an early lead, but a card that wiped the board of creatures hurt Cassidy too much for her to recover. Chris took over, knocking me and Aaron out within two turns. His smug victory grin caused Aaron’s face to twist into a scowl.
