Running From Love

by J. Nichole

  My phone vibrates once, then again, before I look at the screen to see the notifications. Text messages from Laila, and a few notifications from the DateNight app. Excited about the guys who have expressed interest in my profile, I ignore Laila’s messages and open the DateNight app.

  The first guy, not bad looking, if blond hair, blue eyes was my thing. The next, should have asked someone to re-take his profile picture; the angle makes him look like he has a double chin. Or maybe he has a double chin. I click on another profile and tell myself I have to get moving after this one. This guy, a card-toting member of the beard gang. His dark eyes and wide nose are a far cry from the first guy, and he’s definitely my thing. Finally excited about the potential the weekend could hold, I pull out of my parking spot in search of a quick, semi-healthy meal.

  Instead of plopping on my fresh from the warehouse couch with my veggie wrap and smoothie, I sit at my kitchen counter. From the time I left the dance studio, a few more notifications have come in from DateNight. But before I end up in a rabbit hole I read the texts from Laila.

  Laila: I’m excited. Can’t wait to see you!

  Jennifer: Can’t wait to see you either

  Laila: Hey, you filled in your profile, right?

  Jennifer: Of course :)

  Giggling, I scroll through the new profiles, quickly through the guys who I’d ignore in real life, and with more attention to the ones I’d give a second glance. Unfortunately, the ones eliciting a second glance are few and far between. Looking at a guy who looks like he is on the board of a million dollar company, his fade looks like he walks around with a barber following closely behind, his neck tie is maybe a bit too tight around his neck, but something about his eyes catch my attention; I imagine him having dry conversation though. Not someone who’d be interested in my artsy side and would take advantage of my accounting background.

  Unlike other dating apps, DateNight exploits the traditions of dating. It’s used only to spark interest, but there isn’t the ability to message each other. No exchanging phone numbers, chats, sexy texts. None of that. Meeting in person during their sponsored date night is key. See someone you are interested in, and have the chance to have a speed date with them. Better than wasting an entire night with someone you aren’t interested in, and the safety of meeting someone in a group setting.

  When I’m finally done lurking through the profiles of the guys expressing interest in me, I swipe through the profiles of the remaining guys. Saturday should be entertaining to say the least.

  My phone rings with Erica’s name coming across the screen, closing out the app. “What’s up, chick?”

  “Girl, I told you I was just coming to support you on Saturday. But some of these dudes may have potential.”

  “What, you mean here in Houston? Thought you needed to move cities to find a new pool of guys.” I laugh as Erica curses under her breath.

  “Whatever, Jennifer. Have you looked at the profiles yet?”

  “There are a couple of cute guys.”

  “I’m ready. Look, if you don’t leave there with a couple of guys on your team…”

  Before she continues I promise to give them a chance. “It’s getting late. I need to go to bed.”

  Fridays in the office are light, but I need as much rest as I can get before the weekend. I take a quick shower then climb into bed with thoughts of the upcoming date night swirling through my head.

  The workday passes quickly and before I know it, it’s time for me to head out to pick up Laila from the airport. Laila throws her bag in my trunk and wraps her arms around my neck.

  “Jennifer, it’s so good to see you.” Laila and I met during college orientation. It didn’t take us long to become close friends and eventually roommates. Unlike Nicole, Laila was much less dramatic. Although, she brought plenty of drama to the apartment with her issues with her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend. Last time I saw her, that boyfriend put a ring on it.

  “I’m happy you are here.” We climb into the car and I ask, “Are you hungry?”

  She reaches for her stomach groaning. “Yes. Too busy at work to stop for lunch, and ran through the airport to catch my flight.”

  Pulling away from Bush airport I assure her I’ll feed her some Texas barbecue, “Because what is a trip to Houston without a platter of barbecue.”

  Her stomach rumbles and I laugh. “Right about now, I’d take just about anything.” On our way to the Brisket House I describe the geography of Houston. We’ll only be back on the North side when we return to the airport on Sunday. “And which side did you grow up on?”

  Scrunching my nose, I respond, “Even further north.”

  “Wait, will I get to see Mama Kelly while I’m here?” My family visited us in Tallahassee a few times, and like all of our parents, they made it their business to treat us to dinner, stock the refrigerator and give our apartment the loving care it deserved. Each set of our parents were extended family, and my mom has already warned me about not seeing her baby Laila while she’s in town.

  “She already has a Sunday dinner planned for you before your flight out. She has plans to send you back to New York nice and full.”

  Laila smiles as we pull into the parking lot of the barbecue joint. “That’s why I love your mama.” Laila falls behind me a few steps and I turn to make sure she’s okay. “Did you tell your daddy that you were doing DateNight?” My dad is half-crazy when it comes to me. Especially when it concerns dudes. He cock-blocked any chance he could when he was visiting. He even sent Chris, Laila’s fiancé, packing one evening when he felt it was too late for us to have male company. I don’t blame him. After everything that happened with me in high school, he had every right to worry.

  When I had the courage to give my parents the details about what happened I thought my dad was going to punch a hole in the wall. I had introduced him to my parents, my dad had approved of him, and in my dad’s eyes he was a decent dude. None of us could have guessed he was a thief, taking from me what I didn’t give to him willingly. Since then my dad has been more critical of the guys I dated. It took him months before he trusted Derrick.

  “Tell him about DateNight?” I roll my eyes in her direction. “Not unless you want his crazy ass showing up to the event.” She shakes her head and I know we both can imagine what would happen if he knew I had any parts in a blind date smorgasbord. If one strange man can set him off, multiple strange men would send him to a padded room.

  The smell of hickory chips and sloppy barbecue sauce wafts past my nose as I approach the hostess stand. “Table for three,” I say. Fortunately for Laila’s growling stomach, there isn’t a wait. Laila and I follow behind the hostess as she sits us at a table in the middle of the rustic restaurant. Laila and I sit across from each other with a roll of napkins and a variety of sauces on the table between us.

  She looks nervously around the restaurant before the waiter approaches our table and she exhales. Before he can take our drink order she asks, “Can you bring us”—she looks down at the menu—“an order of corn bread muffins… and burnt ends.”

  The waiter laughs and asks, “Would you ladies like anything to drink?”

  Laila grins and says, “Of course.” She looks across to me and I order an adult southern tea. Her eyes grow wide and she says, “Give me one of those.”

  Laughing, I ask, “Is Chris up there starving you?”

  She rolls her eyes and responds, “No, but you know I’m trying to be super fine in my wedding dress.” Fortunately for me, and for the sake of my bridesmaid dress, my dance classes will keep me in great shape without much extra effort. “Not everyone is as fortunate as you to have a naturally athletic body.”

  “So Chris isn’t starving you. You’re starving you?” With my head turned to the side I catch Erica crossing the restaurant, hips sashaying as she makes her way to our table.

  Erica sits next to Laila, and as if they’ve known each other for years they hug and exchange small talk. Before we finish the appetizers La
ila ordered, they’ve strategized a plan for me to nab the decent guy from the DateNight app.

  “Just be sure to lean in when he sits across from you.” Erica leans into the table with her eyes set on mine. “Act like everything he says is the most interesting thought anyone has ever spoken.”

  “But what if it isn’t? Do I really need someone that bad that I have to act as if I’m interested in what he has to say even if he’s corny?”

  Erica sighs. “Believe me, if nobody else understands you, I do. Some dudes don’t realize how corny they can be.” I look between Erica and Laila who haven’t given me good vibes about this speed dating event. I’m on the brink of backing out of the idea when Erica says, “But at least it’s quick, you won’t have to spend too much time with each guy.” She has a point. Unless I want to be single the rest of my life I’ll have to eventually get back into dating, and this event is a quick way to meet a few guys in one day.

  “If nothing else, at least it will be fun.”

  Laila smiles. “Thank God, I was just starting to go through the list of guys I know to think about who I could introduce you to.”

  Erica taps Laila on the hand then points to herself. “Keep going through that list.” She raises her eyebrow. “If Chris has any other brothers, a cousin, young uncle, old nephew that you can introduce me to, I’m all in.” Laila and I both laugh. When I was flying to Atlanta for Laila’s proposal and Nicole’s boyfriend expressing his love with an art exhibit dedicated to her, I told Erica all about it. For weeks after she asked if they had another brother.

  As we walk out of the restaurant Laila describes their older brother to Erica and she seems ready to hop on a plane to Tennessee to meet him. “Anything I can do to get out of this dating game.”

  Before she can eat her words I say, “Oh, but I should just dive right in.”

  Chapter Three

  Laila waves before she leaves Erica and me to join the rest of the ladies. “I’m going to ask each of you to take a seat alone at a table. When we get started the guys will be asked to sit across from you.” My head swivels around in search of these guys who will be joining us shortly.

  “Just breathe girl,” Erica whispers in my ear. “We are going to make this fun.” We walk to a set of tables and take a seat next to each other. Before the guys enter I adjust myself in the seat, alternating from leaning on the table to sitting back in the chair with my legs crossed. When the server offers me a cocktail I’m tempted to take a shot, but decide to have a Long Island Ice Tea instead.

  A handsome man with dark brown eyes and smooth skin walks past my table. I don’t remember seeing him on DateNight, but I wouldn’t mind if he sat across from me. “Hello.” The deep voice startles me. He looks familiar with his baldhead and hazel eyes. I’m pretty sure he was one of my matches on the app.

  “Hi.” I wave at him as he sits across from me. As he begins to ask me random questions I wish I had that shot after all. “I’m from Houston, grew up north of the city. Are you from here?”

  He shakes his head and says, “No, I’m from Dallas, I moved here after college.”

  “What do you do here?” I take a couple of sips of my drink and wait for him to respond.

  “Run numbers all day.” Blinking a few times, I look to Erica and her date before he elaborates. “I work at an accounting firm.”

  Although I don’t want this conversation to turn to work I can’t help asking him questions about his job. Even if we don’t have other dates we can network. The music fades and the hostess informs us it’s time for our next date. Julian stands and winks before moving on to his next date. I didn’t feel an attraction to him, no butterflies swirling; he pretty much went straight into the friend box.

  The next guy, an M’Baku look alike, makes my heart skip a few beats. When he sits across from me I lean into the table and wait for him to speak. “How’s it going for you so far?”

  “I haven’t found my soul mate yet, but not too bad.” I smile when he laughs and nods his head.

  “Looks like you could use another drink.” He points to my empty glass. He calls the server over and orders a refill for both of us. “Soul mate…” He bites his lip. “What are you looking for in a guy?”

  “A guy who is attractive physically and intellectually.” I wait for a reaction but continue when M’Baku doesn’t even flinch. “A guy who is passionate and considerate, and has an abundance of love for his mama.” I could go on forever. My relationship with Derrick taught me what I loved and had to have in my forever guy, but also taught me what I had to stay away from. The only thing Derrick didn’t have was the passion. Until I see it, I don’t know if it’s possible in one guy.

  “Someone who can stimulate your mind.” He shifts in his seat. “And what would be your seduction of choice?” My eyes grow wide and my lips part. “Politics, culture, history?”

  “As long as we can keep the conversation flowing, and our topics are deeper than pop culture and our daily lives”—I take a sip of my refilled drink— “then I would consider my intellectual appetite fulfilled.”

  Just as the music fades he says, “Just so you know, I love my mama.” M’Baku could definitely get it. When he walks away I watch as he sits in front of a woman who looks nothing like me. Her curves rival my dancer’s shape, and unlike my wild curls her hair is cut into a straight bob.

  “Girl, you might as well get up from the table.” Erica stares in the direction of M’Baku. “If he ain’t some sort of African royalty.” She looks to me. “How did I miss him on the app?” She grabs her phone and scrolls. “I’m over here with these cutesy boys, and you got yourself a grown, sexy ass man.”

  Our next dates arrive to our tables and I turn my attention from M’Baku, to the hip-hop superstar sitting before me. He greets me and the bling around his neck distracts me from the words coming from his mouth. I laugh to myself when I imagine him in the studio late at night using the DateNight app. “Having fun tonight?” His voice doesn’t match his style.

  “I am. Have you met any keepers?” He shakes his head. With his hand around his chain he says, “I think this is scaring them off.” I wag my head and he laughs. “I rock a suit and tie during the week, and on the weekends I relax a bit.”

  “I see.” He asks me about the work I do and somehow we get into talking about the dance studio. “If I had the choice I’d teach dance full-time.”

  “Making money from our passion projects is life goals, right?” I nod my head in agreement because he couldn’t be closer to the truth. Who wouldn’t want to do what they love all day long, and be able to pay the bills with the money from it?

  “Do you have any passion projects?” I listen as he tells me about wanting to be an athletic coach because he lacks the skills to play on a professional level. “Do you coach kids?”

  “Naw.” He laughs. With my eyebrows raised he smirks. “I can’t deal with other people’s bad kids. More power to you dealing with teenage girls.” He sighs. “I can only imagine.” The music fades and I’m thankful the universe saw fit for this date to be over. I’d be fine if he rocked a chain on the weekend, if it was genuine. But his attempt at swag was off-putting.

  “Alright ladies and gentlemen, I hope all your dates went well. Now is the time to pull out your phones.” With my phone in hand I open the DateNight app where we are supposed to rate our date. If mutual interest is shared with any of the guys I select, our contact information will be exchanged.

  “I already know you selecting the prince, right?” Erica laughs as she scrolls through her phone. “I think I’m going to pass, but I’m glad I only had to suffer through the dates for a few minutes and not a few hours.”

  I hover over Julian’s profile before deciding to pass. I want his contact information to network with him, but I don’t want him to think I was romantically interested in him. Passing on the suit by day and rapper by night happens without a second thought. Only one remaining is M’Baku, and I select him with no hesitation.

  “L
ooks like most of the selections are entered.” The hostess says as she looks at an iPad. “By the end of the night you should receive contact information from the hot dates you had tonight. Thank you for coming out to DateNight. Our hope is that you’ve found someone and don’t need us anymore.” Erica grunts. “But if not, we’d love to have you back. Feel free to stick around and mingle.”

  Erica stands, grabbing her empty glass. “Mingling may be awkward. Let’s find Laila and get out of here.” We take the path of least interaction and find Laila sitting at the bar alone.

  “How was it?” Laila squeals when she sees us. “Any matches?” With her hand on her hip Erica looks to me. “No luck, Erica?” Laila giggles.

  “I just don’t know how I missed the African prince while I was scrolling.” She points to me. “This one here sat down with a regal king who was swole perfection.” Both Laila and I burst into laughter at her description of M’Baku.

  I shrug and say, “Gotta be more careful. We’ll see if we match.” It was great that we chatted but now I’m like a kid waiting for Christmas in July to know if we had a mutual attraction. “How’d your meeting go?”

  “It was good.” She nods. “But I was expecting to meet the founder of the tech company that created the DateNight app but he had an emergency and couldn’t be here.”

  My eyebrows bunch together. “But weren’t you doing an article on him?” Laila writes for Millennial Magazine. Her articles span anything relevant to us millennials. I’d agree that DateNight would be a relevant piece for the magazine, and a start-up magnate, even more appealing.

  Laila shrugs. “I was but his partner showed up. I can make it work.” I admire Laila’s flexibility. She’s always been the calm one out of our group. She takes another sip of her drink. “Y’all ready to get out of here?”

  “Let’s go.” On our way out I glance over my shoulder hoping to catch another look at M’Baku, but he’s not in sight. On our way to my apartment I refresh the DateNight app multiple times, waiting for the match notification that never comes. Erica is right; this dating scene may be more difficult than I remember.