Once you know the location, deciding what clothes to wear is easier. Something to keep in mind is it’s always polite to let your date know what you’ll be wearing. No one enjoys feeling under- or overdressed.
Chapter Thirteen
Izzy cut the sandwich she’d just made for dinner in half and picked up her laptop to take into the living room, where she planned to work on the book. She was writing the chapter about planning for a first date, something she had no experience with, since she’d never actually asked someone on a date or officially been on one.
What she’d seen on television and in movies seemed overly angst-ridden. Would they, or wouldn’t they? Should I, or shouldn’t I? All the what-ifs. Why didn’t people just be straightforward about what they wanted and accept the response when it was given? Easy peasy. Maybe that should be the focus of the chapter. She’d underscore the need to be direct. Follow your gut. Leave the games and silly head trips out of it.
Happy to have a grasp of the subject, she got situated and opened the laptop. Instead of opening the manuscript, though, she clicked on her browser icon and logged on to the dating website. She’d been doing this more often since meeting Anaya in person. Most days, they managed to catch each other online at the same time, and they messaged each other. Anaya was easy to talk to, and Izzy looked forward to chatting with her online. It filled her with anxiety to imagine asking to see her in person again, but she figured she needed to just do it. Tonight was the night.
Anaya’s profile icon was outlined in green, indicating she was active, and Izzy was about to say hello, but Anaya was quicker.
How’s your day been? Did you finish all the work you said you had the other night?
Izzy smiled. She hadn’t told Anaya about the book she was writing, but being in similar career fields, she had told her about the mountain of documents she’d been working on.
I did. I was even able to get off work at a decent time today and take Gus for a run.
Did you see the sunset?
It was beautiful.
I was wondering. Do you want to go on a real date? Nothing fancy. Coffee or something. Someplace where we can actually hear each other talk?
She shouldn’t have been surprised, but she was. She’d been ready to ask Anaya out. They were chatting each other up on a dating website, after all. Still, she was taken off guard.
It’s not a big deal, Anaya typed.
She’d taken too long to respond. The cacophony of thoughts in her mind quieted, and simple anxiety curdled her stomach as she read Anaya’s words.
Anaya sent another message.
Unless you want it to be, that is. I suck at this part. I just want to see you again. To check if you’re as cool as I remember from the last time. I had a few drinks. Who knows if my memory is as good as it should be?
Izzy typed her response before her mind glitched out again.
Sure. How about coffee on Saturday?
It’s a date!
There was no ambivalence in the reply, Izzy thought. Relief swept through her before a new wave of anxiety blew in.
Was this still research, or was she really dating after swearing off it forever? How had this happened?
The new chapter could wait. She got up to go for a run.
* * *
“So, I have a real date,” Izzy said while her coffee brewed, and she watched Jane select a perfect apple from the fruit bowl in the orange breakroom. She loved to watch Jane select fruit. It was always a process, and more often than not, Izzy found herself craving the piece of fruit Jane picked out. Today, Jane looked extra serious in her selection. Izzy pried her eyes from Jane and watched the coffee drip into her Wonder Woman cup.
“With who?” Audie was leaning against the counter watching the silent newsfeed on the giant TV monitor in the corner of the room. “Is it the woman from that dating site you met at the bar the other night?”
Izzy concentrated on the last drops falling into her coffee cup. It was a mixed bag, sharing information about this scary adventure with other people. They might have opinions. They might have input. It was hard enough handling her own thoughts about it. But doing it all on her own was even scarier. “Yeah. She asked me out to coffee this Saturday. She called it a date.”
Jane harrumphed, and Izzy turned to look just in time to see her toss the apple back into the fruit bowl with a frown. The fruit was obviously subpar today. Jane went over to the bulk wall and filled a cup with Peanut M&M’s.
Audie broke a stem of grapes from a bunch. “The dating-site lady likes you.” She popped one of the grapes into her mouth with a grin.
“How do you know that?”
“Because she asked you to coffee.” Audie pushed another grape into her mouth.
Audie ate her grapes as if it was a side note. She didn’t do it the same way Jane did, as if they were individual parcels requiring attention and analysis. Izzy always knew if the grapes were tasty when Jane’s eyes went half-closed and out of focus as she ate them.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Izzy poured half-and-half into her coffee.
Audie sighed as if the answer were obvious. “It’s not another bar. Or her place. Coffee means she wants to talk. She wants to get to know you better. She must already like you, since she met you in person already. It means she’s not trying to get you into bed right away.”
“It could also mean she just wants to be friends,” Izzy said. She poured a couple drops of agave into her coffee.
Audie sighed. “Did she call it a date, or did she call it a meetup?”
“She specifically asked if I wanted to go on a ‘real date.’” Izzy leaned against the counter and stirred her coffee. She probably looked way more relaxed than she felt.
“Yeah, she likes you.”
“I have some work to do,” Jane said. The candies clattered in her cup as she spun around and walked toward the breakroom door.
“Okay,” Izzy and Audie said in tandem and watched her leave the room.
“Did she seem grumpy or something to you?” Izzy wondered if she should follow Jane to ask her if something was wrong.
“Or something,” Audie said.
“I think she’s working too hard.”
Audie looked at her with a half-smile.
“What?” Izzy sipped her coffee.
“If I didn’t know better,” Audie said, “I’d say she was a little jealous.”
“Of me and you?”
Audie swatted her arm. “You’re so dense sometimes. No, idiot. Of you and dating-site lady.”
Izzy thought about it. Jane didn’t date people she worked with. Even if she did, she was far too beautiful to be someone’s research project. The idea was laughable.
She snorted.
“There’s no way she’s jealous of Anaya. Jane and I are friends.”
* * *
Jane looked deep in thought in front of her computer, and the desks on either side of her were empty when Izzy leaned against the low cubicle wall in front of her. Her stomach fluttered at the smile Jane flashed when she looked up and saw her there.
Izzy propped her elbow on the cubical wall and rested her chin in her hand. “That’s nice to see.”
Jane tipped her head to the side. “What?”
“Your beautiful smile.” Had she really said “beautiful”? Yikes! Oh well. She pressed on, knowing she couldn’t take it back. “You’ve seemed preoccupied lately, and I’ve missed it, that smile. I came to check on you.”
Jane’s smile faltered, and her eyes darted to the side. “I’ve had a few things on my mind.”
“You want to talk about them? I’m a good listener.”
Jane tilted her head to the other side and looked at her. Izzy could see the cogs spinning, but Jane hesitated so long, she thought she wasn’t going to open up to her. It was silly to have brought it up at the office anyway. Maybe if she suggested dinner or something. Just the two of them. No pressure, no interruptions.
But Jane’s shoulders d
ropped a little, and she leaned back in her chair. She stared at her hands, which were in her lap. “It’s family stuff.” She looked up at Izzy briefly before glancing away. “Among other things.”
“Ah. Family stuff.” With such a large family, Izzy knew how that went. “Wanna talk about it?”
Jane seemed to search for a way to start. “My folks are getting old, and my dad just seems to be getting crankier as the years go by.”
Izzy was thankful her dad was exactly the opposite. The tough contractor was softening up in his old age. But this was about Jane, not her. “I hear it’s not uncommon.”
“My mom expects me to come over for Sunday dinner every week. So, I go, and I get to listen to him rant about politics and…things. It’s just getting to me, I guess.”
Izzy went to her parents’ house for Sunday dinners at least once a month, too. She cherished her mom and dad. It was awesome that Jane was close to her parents. But it sounded like things were getting strained.
“We had to make a no-political-discussions zone at my folks’ house during the last election,” she said. “It was bad. We all vote Democrat, but we were split during the primaries.”
Jane’s eyes grew distant, and Izzy wondered if she’d said something wrong. She was about to ask when Jane issued a single, humorless laugh.
“I wish it was just politics.”
The look on Jane’s face made the hair on the back of Izzy’s neck stand on end. She was probably overreacting. “Nothing’s worse than political arguments,” she said, trying to joke the tension away.
Jane’s eyes went hard in a way Izzy had never seen. “Have you ever had to put yourself between your father and mother so he couldn’t hit her?” Izzy didn’t know what to say and Jane looked away, rubbing her shoulder. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
“Are you okay?” Izzy asked.
Jane rubbed her shoulder again. “It’s just a little bruised. It was my fault anyway. My mom was trying to change the subject from ‘the gay issue,’ as she likes to call it. My dad calls it something far more politically incorrect. I should have let it drop.”
Izzy felt like she might be sick. She thought it strange Jane had been keeping her sweaters on even when they were outside beyond the chill of the office air-conditioning the last couple of days.
Looking uncomfortable, Jane sat up straighter. “Seriously, I don’t know why I told you this.”
“Is your mom safe?”
“Yeah. When I’m not there she’s great at keeping the conversation neutral.” Jane lifted her eyebrows. “Years of practice.”
“Well, if you ever need any help, I’m here for you.” Izzy moved around the desk and put a hand on her shoulder. “Even if it’s just to talk.”
Jane looked at her as if she wanted to say something but had second thoughts.
“Seriously. I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
Jane smiled, but Izzy thought she might cry. Instead she took a deep breath. “None of this is new, but I appreciate your worry.”
* * *
Now that you’re going on a date, you can feel relatively confident the person you’re with is interested in you. But how interested are you in them? Where do you want this date to go? At this point, it’s a good idea to think about the possibilities. Are you already hoping this is just the first of many dates? Are you still trying to figure out if you like the person in a romantic way? How far are you willing to take a first date if it goes well? Will it be a smile and a thank-you ending? A kiss? More? What if it doesn’t go well? Do you stay until the end, or do you have an exit strategy?
Regardless of your hopes and expectations, you should be prepared to handle a list of the most likely of possible outcomes.
Chapter Fourteen
Izzy was early, and See You Latte was busy, which didn’t surprise her. She’d never seen the coffee shop not busy. At least the line was short. While she waited for her order, she thought about her conversation with Jane the day before and kept her eyes peeled for a table to free up. As luck would have it, when the barista handed her the bhakti chai latte she’d ordered, a table near the window cleared, and she hurried to get it before someone else grabbed it. She was brushing away scone crumbs when Anaya walked through the door. They saw each other at the same time, and Anaya greeted her with a hug.
“Is it okay? I’m a hugger.” Anaya released her and smiled.
Izzy wasn’t a big hugger. She hugged her family on occasion and sometimes her friends if the situation called for it.
“Totally okay,” she said and meant it.
“Good. Because I like you, and I’ll probably spontaneously hug you a few more times today.”
Izzy didn’t know how to respond. She pulled out a chair. “Let me get you coffee. What’s your poison?”
Anaya picked up Izzy’s cup and sniffed it. “What you have smells amazing. I’ll try that.”
“Okay. One extra-spicy bhakti chai coming up.”
Izzy ordered the drink and a couple of scones—a chocolate-chip and an orange-cranberry to be safe. As she waited for the latte, she started to worry Anaya wouldn’t like scones at all. What would she do if Anaya didn’t want one? She could eat them both, but would Anaya think she was a glutton? Would it be worse than if she left a scone uneaten? Would it make Anaya feel bad? Her brain started to ramp up the inevitable hectic chatter. Don’t start. Don’t start. Don’t start. She chanted silently. The chatter slowed, and she concentrated on her breathing until the chai was ready.
“I’m so glad you got something to nosh on.” Anaya eyed the scones when she got back to the table. “I’m starving.” She looked up at Izzy with a grateful smile. “Oh, and thank you. I should have bought since I invited you.”
“You bought drinks the other night. Take your pick. I’m good with either. I can always go back for something else. They have lots of other pastries and things.” Izzy slid the plates to the center of the small table, the uncertain voices trying to start up again.
Anaya took the scone closest to her, the orange-cranberry, and broke a piece off, popping it into her mouth. “Yum!”
The chattering voices stopped. Then she wondered what Anaya meant about who should buy. “Are there rules?”
Anaya sipped her chai. “Rules?”
“About who buys on a date. You said you should have bought.”
Anaya laughed. “I suppose some people have rules, but you’ll figure out quickly I’m not a rule follower.”
Izzy found the mischievous gleam in Anaya’s eyes intriguing. Maybe her revelation should have alarmed her, because people without rules often behave unpredictably. But Anaya’s candor gave her a sense of safety.
They spoke about travel and running, and before Izzy knew it, two hours had gone by.
Anaya stretched. “I saw you look at your watch. I think the scones have worn off. I need some real food.”
Izzy was right there with her. “There’s a Thai restaurant next door. I could go for a late lunch, if you’re free.” She’d surprised herself at how easy it had been to ask. No stress. No overthinking it. Her time with Anaya had also kept her mind off Jane.
“Sounds great. But only if you let me pay.”
“For a woman without rules, you sure like to throw them out there.” The teasing came easy. She was enjoying herself, and being around Anaya was fun.
Anaya winked at her. “I’m pretty versatile, actually.”
Izzy was clueless about flirting, but even she knew Anaya had uttered a not-so-subtle innuendo. The realization gave her a little buzz, followed by a huge surge of insecurity. When was Anaya going to figure out she was different? Would it be better if she told her up front? Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!
Lunch was another two hours, and Izzy enjoyed the conversation. Unlike the coffee shop, the restaurant wasn’t exceptionally busy, and the wait staff didn’t try to rush them off as soon as they were done with their entrees.
Finally, Anaya took Izzy’s wrist and looked at her watch. “I
hate to say it, but I have to get going.”
“Yeah, me, too.” Other than getting back home to Gus, Izzy really didn’t have to leave, but she didn’t want Anaya to think she didn’t have a life.
Anaya picked up her phone and opened a new contact page. “I’m tired of watching your profile all the time, waiting for you to log in. Can I have your number?”
Izzy wished she could be as direct and confident as Anaya. The buzz in her stomach moved to the rest of her as she entered her info. For the first time, it drowned out the fear.
“I guess our first official date went well, if you’re asking for my number now,” Izzy said. It was a joke, but had she sounded like a dork? Stop it. You don’t need to overanalyze everything.
“I’d say it went well. Better than well, actually.” Anaya saved the info Izzy had entered.
Izzy felt her own phone vibrate in her back pocket.
Anaya looked up through her long lashes. “I just texted you. Now you have my number.”
Izzy stood there, outside of the restaurant with Anaya, and wondered how to say good-bye. What was the protocol after the first official date?
She didn’t have much time to wonder. Of course, Anaya knew exactly what to do. She stepped close and gave Izzy a hug. This one was longer than the first one hours ago.
* * *
You did it! You went on a date, and you didn’t die!
Now what?
Do you want to see them again?
If your answer is no, the kind thing is to break it to them gently as soon as possible. I get that it doesn’t feel good to hurt someone’s feelings, but it’s worse to lead someone on just because you don’t want to let them down. It will hurt way less if you do it at the start. Sure, they’ll probably get the point if you don’t call them or answer their calls. But if you ask me, it’s not nice to keep someone hanging. Some people are good at rejection, and some are not. The main thing is to be kind and direct when it comes up.
No Experience Required Page 9