Chapter１
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How long did I have to wait? It had already been 10 minutes when I checked the time on my wristwatch. It would have been good to know that he would be late, even though I understood that he couldn't precisely inform me in advance.
I let out a sigh that had been stifled inside of my chest and focused on the drink in front of me. No matter how many times I visited this establishment, I always ended up ordering a Shirley Temple. I never wanted to let any determining element affect my choice of the person who would be in front of me on these blind dates that Candice liked setting me up with. I most certainly didn't want to get wasted and do anything I'd later regret.
I grimaced as I caught myself looking at my watch once again. This person was already giving himself a nasty reputation. I nibbled on the cherries that were still floating on top of the drink in front of me, attempting to divert my attention with it.
Candice was my closest friend. She persisted on helping me out after realizing that I had been unmarried for far too long. I was the type of person who found it difficult to say no, so before I knew it, I had agreed. If only I had understood how severe she was capable of becoming. She outdid my efforts to meet someone fresh after my own failed attempts. She always had someone available to introduce me to on the weekends. Even how she knew each of them remained a mystery to me. However, this pub would always be the meeting location, and I would always get a text informing me what time to show there. Bars must have been hip for individuals my age. Either that, or she only wanted me to find love.
After all this time, I was starting to believe that I was the wrong kind of person for love. Why else was I having such a difficult time?
A voice abruptly said from behind me, "Are you Jane?"
I was scared because I was as deep in my thoughts as I had been. I sprang from the stool I was sitting on and turned to face the speaker to check if anybody recognized my name.
It was a guy with a grin on his face and some dimples. He was cute and handsome enough to make my cheeks feel warm.
Finding the right words was challenging since my tongue felt heavy in my mouth. “Mark?” I attempted to keep my voice strong as I inquired inquisitively. How in the world did Alice find a way to send me such a handsome man? Even though he was late, this was a blessing in disguise for me.
As he sat down on the seat next to me, his grin spread. He called over a neighboring bartender and got a drink for himself before coming back to me. He observed me with his kind blue eyes. As he glanced me over, my gut constricted as I hoped that his attention wouldn't be drawn to my curves. I was quite self-conscious about how I looked, but he didn't seem to care.
We began with an introduction-type talk, just like on every previous blind date I had been on. It was the first step in deciding if I even wanted to give this guy a chance.
So far, I've discovered that he enjoyed animals. Having a cat of my own, I was always interested in hearing about other people's pets. He hadn't actually asked me many questions, but I could tell he liked to speak about himself. I'll be honest, I didn't mind much. He was giggling happily throughout everything he said, and as he went on to tell me more about himself, he seemed more and more thrilled.
The date was going well thus far. My heart felt fuller the longer I listened to him. It gave me hope that I could have a possibility of meeting my second half. I wouldn't be upset if it were this person. He could have been the person I had been seeking for all along.
He drained two bottles himself after seeing that I had consumed half of my drink. He had to excuse himself to go the restroom since he had consumed so much alcohol in such a short period of time. I offered him a grin and didn't think much of it as I saw him blend into the throng. I returned my focus to my drink after he had left.
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