Page 27 of Mailroom Delight
“You tricked me.” She stated, giving me a pointed look.
“Nope. Paige, I didn’t trick you one bit. Baby, if you suspected this was a date and didn’t want to be here with me, you wouldn’t have turned up. And definitely not dressed like that.” I loved stating the obvious, but I knew most people weren’t used to being around someone so blatant.
I couldn’t help how I was and wouldn’t change my character or personality for anything. Whoever was with me; friend, foe, or lover, would always get the truth from me. It was a given I was actually proud of. It meant I didn’t lie or cheat, and they knew what they got from me was the real me.
“I came for my column and I always look good,” she retorted.
I noticed how she was still here.
Her purse was next to her. The logical and normal thing to do if she didn’t want to be here on a date with me was to grab her purse and leave.
I could have pointed that out to her, but I restrained myself because in the short space of time I’d known her I’d managed to assess her personality.
Paige liked to have the upper hand, so when challenged she’d retaliate by doing something a level above what she’d previously done.
If I pushed her she would leave.
Since I wanted her to stay I decided not to push.
“Do you know what JLM stands for?” I steered the conversation towards work.
“Not so much.”
“Just like me. It stands for just like me.”
“Just like me club.” She smirked. “That’s a little weird. I would have thought most people came to clubs for a quick pick up on the easiest person they could find.”
“True, for most clubs I guess. But not this one. What’s your take on dating sites. Imagine someone writes in and asks you your opinion.”
“I’d say that’s a great place to find serial killers and perverts so stay far away.” She nodded with conviction.
“So, you rule out all dating sites?”
“Of course.”
“What if I said there were some that were safe and transparent in everything they profess to do.”
“It’s online. It’s not natural,” she argued.
“Maybe so, but in these modern times with everyone so busy, being online is often the best way that people can meet. I’m not saying it’s the only way, but it’s a way. Look at the people around us and tell me what you see.”
She did as instructed, and looked, gazing through the glass window at the couples on the dance floor and all around having fun as they danced to the music.
The answer I was looking for was happiness. I looked too, and both saw and felt it.
“They look happy, like they’re having fun.”
“They’re all couples. Married and dating. They all met on the Just Like Me website where they found someone who was just like them. Some have been together for years. They come here for the environment. There’s no pressure to meet someone, they’re just here having a good time.”
She looked back to me with that raised eyebrow again. “You sure know an awful lot about the place.”
“The owner usually does.” I smiled.
Her glossy pink lips parted in surprise. “You own this place?”
“Yup, and the site.”
She looked intrigued. “Why? I wouldn’t figure you for being someone who would own such things. Wait, it must make a lot of money. Right?”
