Page 22 of Confessions of a Virgin on a Dating App
“Yup. Tristan Ryan Kleine. What’re yours?”
I smiled. “AAM. Avery Annabelle Murphy.”
Sharing my full name made my heart flutter. It was something new we were learning about each other, unlocking another piece of our puzzles.
Tristan seemed to share the same feeling as we stood motionless in front of theGalagaconsole, lost in each other’s gazes. I seriously thought he was going to kiss me in the middle of the bar when he suddenly snapped back to reality and turned away, his face flushing red.
“I really like you.”
His words struck me like a lightning bolt, sending warm, affectionate quivers down my spine. Between all the conversations and getting to know each other, this was the first time we’d acknowledged our budding relationship.
“Metoo.” I returned his starry gaze, flirtatiously pressing a finger to his nose.
But it was getting late. The neon-lit, windowless space distorted my sense of time, but I knew it had to be approaching midnight.
Once again, four hours had swept past in a heartbeat.
“You know,” his smile disappeared, his face suddenly turning serious. “My apartment is only about twenty minutes from here.”
Static rang in my ears, and I could feel the warmth draining from my face.
No. No, nonono…
I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to tell him. I needed to let this illusion last a little longer, pretending that I was a normal, well-adjusted woman who definitely didn’t have major sexual issues. I couldn’t let him know the truth.
I couldn’t let him know that I was broken.
Tristan’s smile faded. I knew fear was written all over my face.
“We don’t have to do anyth—ugh, sorry. I’m an idiot,” he scratched his scalp, his face burning red as he tried to backtrack. “I just… really don’t want this night to end. I didn’t mean to push anything on you.”
“It’s o-okay,” I stammered. “I’m just… not very experienced.”
I could feel my insides cringing.That’s an understatement.
He chuckled. “Neither am I. I’m just…excited, that’s all. I started online dating a few months ago and I had yet to meet anyone I connected with. Especially someone as awesome as you. But I do tend to rush things, and I don’t want to mess this up.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what,” I smiled, my confidence beginning to return. “How about we play a few more games, thenwe’ll close out our tabs and find a quieter venue to sit and talk. Somewhere more private.”
Tristan nodded, deep in thought. “That’s a great plan. And I know just the place. But first…” His eyes drifted over to the Nintendo Switch consoles. “Didn’t you say you’re good atMario Kart?”
“Indeed.” A smug grin crept into my face as I hopped onto a barstool and grabbed a controller. “C’mon, race me. Loser pays the tab.”
I spent most of the race in the lead, but in the end, Tristan won by throwing a blue shell at me just seconds from the finish line.
I let out a frustrated scowl, plopping my controller on the glass countertop.
“I win,” Tristan placed a hand on my shoulder and smirked. In response, I wrinkled my nose and laughed, swatting his hand off me.
“Yeah, yeah, you got lucky.”
As serious as I was about winning Mario Kart, I couldn’t be mad at him. Not with that beautiful, cheeky smile flashing back at me.
“Whelp, I’m true to my word.” I leaned forward and scooped the tab off the countertop. “These drinks are on me.”
“Not a chance.” Tristan swiped the paper from my hands before I even had a chance to read the total. I didn’t fight back, knowing thefake-fighting-over-the-billgame all too well, and gave a warm “thank you” as he plopped his credit card on the bar.
“Now, onward to your surprise venue?” I asked.
