I’d always avoided shopping close to this horrible day, but Melissa had to drag me out here. Everywhere, people were buying little gifts for their significant others. They all seemed so happy. The busiest time of the year for chocolate stands, gift and flower shops. Everyone was stocking up, buying gifts for their special someone.
I hadn’t been stocking up on chocolate. Vodka was a different story. Although I didn’t drink, it was about time to start. I was going to need that kind of solace in a couple of days when I was home on Valentine’s Day alone. Again.
My last boyfriend, Steven, had broken up with me a couple of weeks ago, and even though we hadn’t been great together, I would have liked for us to last through the holiday. I’d never had a boyfriend for Valentine’s Day. It sucked.
I cried a little, but I was over it now. It’d happened too many times for me to expect anything different. A sigh escaped me. I was just cursed. Something somebody did generations ago had made it so that I couldn’t have a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day, and that nobody wanted to fuck me.
By the chocolate cart where Melissa was checking heart-shaped boxes, a couple walked. She was wearing a red dress that looked too formal for a Thursday but also perfect for her. He was good-looking, laughing at something she said while her arm was tucked into his. The way he looked at her…
A pang set into my chest. I hated that my chest ached when I saw couples like that who seemed so blissfully happy. But I wanted that. Was it so wrong that I wanted the same thing all these happy couples seemed to have?
Just once I wanted to be wearing the red dress. To have someone looking at me like that. We could go dancing. He’d sweep me across the dance floor, and I’d feel my stomach do a little flip-flop as he dipped me backwards. Then we’d kiss. And when the moment came, he wouldn’t back down. He wouldn’t care I was a virgin. He’d be happy to take me to bed and rock my world and care and love and cherish me all at the same time, and everything would be perfect.
I didn’t care what he looked like. It was the feeling that I wanted. In my vision, he was mostly faceless in a dashing tux. Sometimes, he was Brandon Beastly.
The young girl at the cart handed us both a couple of chocolate pieces. I shoved mine into my mouth. Caramel. Not the best. “It’s not my fault, you know?”
Melissa twisted her tongue inside her mouth, savoring her piece. “What’s not your fault?”
“I meet a great guy. We get along, and suddenly when I tell him that I still have my V-card, he freaks out and leaves. I don’t get it. I thought men were supposed to love virgins. Primal instinct and all that. But every one I’ve encountered gets the same stupid look on their faces, and within days, they’re gone.” A surge of anger washed over me, the pitch of my voice getting higher, louder. “It doesn’t make any sense. I know I can be a pretty good time in bed if someone actually gives me a shot.”
Melissa’s eyes wandered around as she bit her lip on a laugh. Only then I realized people were staring, listening to every word I’d just said.
Oh my God. I put a hand on my forehead, cold sweat against my burning skin. Melissa paid the girl quickly and grabbed the chocolate box. When we turned to walk away from the scene I’d just made, I saw a man, smirking at me.
Oh my God!All I wanted to do was run and hide. Suddenly, I was fighting off tears.
“Excuse me, Miss?” A husky male voice called.
Scampering away, I glanced over my shoulder. It was the smirking man. I glared at him and sped up. Melissa tugged my hand, slowing me down. “He’s cute. Go talk to him,” she whispered.
“Are you crazy? After he heard me say what I said? He’s probably one of those psycho killers that sacrifices virgins at some altar.” I whispered back.
“I’ve never done that,” he said, still following us.
Melissa giggled, and she stopped me from running away, nudging me with her elbow.
“I hate you. I hate you so much right now,” I mumbled.
“No, you don’t.” She linked arms with me and spun us around. I barely looked at the guy. All I could see was his navy blue dress pants and Italian shoes.
“Hi, I’m Kyle.” He extended a hand. “Engineer, not virgin sacrificing psycho.”
I glared at the hand and then back at him. My irritation numbed for a second when I took in his face. He had dark green eyes with yellow strikes. His hair midnight black. Tanned skin. Light beard. Mouth… My heart skittered just at the glance of it. In a way he reminded me of Brandon Beastly. Then I noticed his chin dimple. Steve had one of those. It reminded me of how peeved I should be right now. “Sir, if you expect that I would just go out with you and—”
“Not me,” he interrupted, retracting his hand, his smirk never leaving him.
Now, I was embarrassed all over again. Was he one of those pimps that bought and sold virgins to the highest bidders? I’d hit rock bottom.
“I’d have loved to, but I’m getting married on the fifteenth,” he added. “It’s my cousin that needs a date for the wedding. He hasn’t been able to secure one yet. If you can do him that favor, I think he can help you with your…issue.”
My jaw hung low. Then I stared at Melissa in disbelief. “Can we please leave?”
“I promise he’s not a troll or anything. He’s very handsome. If you can come over to his house tonight, you can see for yourself, have a little talk and decide.” He opened his wallet, brought out a pen and card, and scribbled something down. “Here’s the address.”
“No, thanks,” I said before he gave it to me.
Melissa elbowed me again, and he shrugged. “Why not?”
