"Sure, why not. I don't have any appointments today."
Right. I guess it's probably not a good idea for him to drag a rapidly vibrating needle machine across someone'sskin when he's high. I erase the quick judgment I formed at his hesitation. He's just being responsible, something I forget other adults have to do at their big kid jobs.
"One or two?"
"Let's just start with one."
I pull one out of the bag and hold it up to his mouth—a mouth I'm dying to taste. His lips graze the tips of my fingers as he takes the gummy from me.
He places his hand on the small of my back again as we leave the heated entryway and enter the main building. Admission is free here, so we don't have to do the awkward song-and-dance about who's paying. It's one of the many reasons I hate dating and why I rarely do it. And when I do actually date, it's never with serious intentions.
"So, do you bring all your first dates here? Is this some sort of weird psychological test?" I catch myself, needing to make myself perfectly clear to him. "Not that this is a date or anything."
"It's not?" He seems more teasing than offended, which is refreshing.
"I told you, I don't really do the whole dating thing."
"Because...?"
"Because it's pointless. I don't plan on settling down and starting a family any time soon—if ever—so why pretend?"
"Dating doesn't have to be about finding someone to settle down with. It can just be fun."
"Thank you!" I throw my arms out, palms facing the ceiling.
I guess my volume isn’t museum-appropriate because it's earning me a nasty look from some Karen running a field trip on the other side of the hallway.
"Finally, someone else gets it. I mean, for fuck's sake, I'monly 24. This is the prime of my life. Why waste it on men who are probably just going to fuck me over anyway?"
Realizing what I just said, I glance over at him to make sure I didn't hurt his ego too badly. His face looks a little pained, but mostly amused.
"Ouch. Who hurt you?"
"No one. Obviously, not all men are like that. I've just seen it happen to women in my life, more times than I care to witness. I made a no-dating philosophy to avoid all of that drama."
"You sure no one broke your heart?" He nudges me with his elbow.
"You'd have to be in love to have your heart broken. Like I said, I avoid that at all costs."
"To each their own, I guess."
We walk a few more steps, looking at the exhibits around us.
"You're only 24?"
"Yeah. Didn't you read that on the forms I filled out?"
"I don't really look at that stuff too closely."
"You weren't curious at all?"
"Not really. I figured you were younger than me by a few years just based on observation, but I didn't really care about a specific number."
"How old are you?"
"28. Why? Does that matter to you even though this isn't a date?"
"Not really. Just curious. I've been with people much older and much younger than you."
