I thought I was ready for anything when I agreed to my first date on an expensive one restaurant. But when my companion ordered the most expensive dish on the menu and then refused to pay, I had to make a choice that tested my patience, pride and showed what really matters in dating.
At the age of 32, it seemed to me that I already knew how to recognize a disaster even before it happened.
I would like to say that with Chloe I understood everything in advance, but I really wanted the evening to go well, that I ignored all the first alarming signals.
I haven’t gone on dates for a long time. The last serious relationship ended quietly, like a candle that went out in an empty room. The months after this could not be called completely lonely.
They were just… muted. My life consisted of working days, evenings watching already familiar TV series and friends who wrote less and less because everyone was busy, married, or both at once.
I would like to say that I foresaw everything with Chloe.
My sister Erin ended up pushing me to try again. «You’re too decent a person to sit at home, Evan. Come back to the game, brother. This is not the end of the world».
One rainy Thursday, she made me download dating apps and we sat at the kitchen counter, scrolling through questionnaires and joking until my stomach hurt from laughing.
— Whoa. These women are really confident, Ev.
— And you want me to talk to one of them? — I asked, half amused, half horrified.
— Come back to the game, brother. It’s not an apocalypse, you know.
When I matched Chloe, she immediately stood out.
She was confident, pretty and answered in such a way that her messages turned out to be witter than mine. She made fun of my profile photo of me holding a fish and looking too serious for Saturday morning.
She wrote to me:
«Big catch or midlife crisis?»
I replied: «Why not both options?»
This is where it all started.
When I matched Chloe, she immediately attracted attention.
After several days of back and forth correspondence, Chloe offered to have dinner.
«Let’s do something special. Life is short… you need to enjoy it».
I remember I froze for a while before answering. I’ve already had dates where «was a little special» turned into a game of hide and seek with an account, or where the girl went to the toilet and never returned.
But this time I decided to be honest.
I needed to understand that my time and my strength would not be wasted.
After several days of light flirting, Chloe offered to meet for dinner.
So I wrote to her: «Hey, to make it clear right away: on the first date I usually share the score. It’s easier this way, and we immediately understand that on the same wavelength».
She replied less than a minute later: «Fair! No problem».
It seemed that the issue had been resolved.
«Okay, Evan, — I told myself. — Maybe this time I came across a normal».
Chloe chose the place — elegant restaurant seafood in the city center. There was soft light, calm jazz and an atmosphere where prices on the menu seemed to appear only after you squinted.
«Fair! Don’t worry».
That evening I was ironing a shirt I hadn’t worn since Christmas and rehearsing a conversation in the bathroom. I reminded myself: «You’re just dating a person, not casting in “Bachelor”».
I came first. Hostess smiled.
— Table for two, sir?
— Yes, thank you. Booking in the name Evan.
I came in advance and sat down at the bar, pretending that I was studying the wine list. Every time the door opened, I looked up, waiting for Chloe.
— Table for two, sir?
The bartender caught my eye.
— Are you waiting for someone, brother?
I nodded.
— First date.
He smiled.
— Met online?
— Is it that obvious?
— Just because you check your phone every thirty seconds, — he said, laughing and wiping the glass.
Before I could answer, a voice sounded:
— Evan?
— Are you waiting for someone, brother?
I turned, and there she stood before me: long beautiful hair, a red dress and a wide shining smile. For a second it seemed to me that the whole audience noticed her at the same time.
I jumped up, almost knocking over the bar stool.
— Hello Chloe. Easily found a place?
— Not that difficult, — she said, looking around the restaurant. — Wow, it’s very beautiful here.
I shrugged my shoulders, feeling my nerves making themselves felt again.
— Your merit. You chose him.
She laughed and took my arm when the hostess approached us.
— True. I have a talent for choosing beautiful places.
— Hello Chloe. Easy to find a restaurant?
We went to the hostess between the tables, Chloe’s heels clicking confidently on the floor. At the table she sat down first and looked around as if she was remembering every detail.
— Good place, huh? They have lobster! I adore lobster. I hope you don’t have allergies, Evan, — she said jokingly.