“Okay,” she says as she rolls her eyes. “Any chance that this Dominic guy is just into you?”
“No. No, ha!” I sit up taking a sip of my own tea and place it on the heart-shaped coffee table. “He’s very broody, wears all black, a little pessimistic and I’m…” I pause, trying to think of the right oppositional word.
“A golden retriever?” Delaney suggests, a hint of a smile playing on her mouth.
“I was going to say optimistic, but sure.” I wave a hand at her comparison. “If I am a…goldenretriever,”I glare at Delaney. “He’s like a…I don’t know, what’s a dog breed that judges you immediately?” I throw up my hands at this awful comparison. “This doesn’t even make sense anymore, Lane. Either way,hedoesn’t check off all the boxes onmylist.”
“Ah, yes, this elusive checklist of your perfect specimen.” Delaney leans forward listing off traits on her finger tips. “Brainof Einstein, looks of a young Brad Pitt, chivalrous like Henry Cavil?” she prods.
“Something like that.” I laugh off her mockery of my list. “Standards are important.”
“Of course they are, but what are the chances you meet a guy before going off to medical school and he ticks all your boxes? I mean that figurativelyandliterally.” Delaney shimmies her shoulders at me, a bark of a laugh escaping my lips.
“You’re nuts. Plus, this is all experimental, remember? It’s for the med school application. Which by the way, is due in the fall. I’m nervous enough for it. Let’s just watch this week’s episode, I need to see who gets voted off.” I change the subject, pointing to the remote resting near her.
Delaney comes to sit beside me on the couch, throwing dino-nugget and cowboy boot shaped pillows to the floor to make room for herself. Pulling a fuzzy pink blanket over us she flips on the latest episode of our terribly trashy reality television show that we love to hate.
I suppress a groan and watch the drama unfold on the screen mindlessly. I don’t think I’m asking for too much in a romantic partner, this experiment needs standards. Plus, everyonehas a list, whether they consciously think about it or not. Mine may be a little longer than others, but oh well. I keep my heels high and my standards higher. I begin visualizing my checklist, manifesting a man that qualifies into existence.
Loyal
Tall and handsome, at least taller than me
Chivalrous, but manly
Honest, but in a kind way
Can support himself, has his own place, and is financially stable
Goal oriented, at least one yearly goal and three lifetime goals
Isn’t afraid of a smart woman
