AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There’s intrigue in his voice, which shouldn’t thrill me, but it does. “Oh? I’ve always been a morning person as well. What do you do?”
“I’m an illustrator,” I find myself loosening up a bit, which could have more to do with the drink than the man, who really doesn’t do much for me. “I sell prints online and do commissioned work as well.”
He nods and we chat for a few minutes, other people coming over to mingle and get introductions. I know this isn’t the man for me because the moment he tells me his name I forget it. Still, I’m not nearly as nervous as I was when I walked in the building.
Then there are the little tapas style bites being served. They’re fucking delicious. They’re somehow comforting, while being sexy and textural. There’s ceviche and a chilled soup which is something so fancy I probably would guess wrong about what’s in it. My favorite is the one with some sort of cheese spread layered on bread which reminds me of brunch and potluck events from my childhood.
When happy hour is through and it’s time to sit down for the first round of five-minute dates, I’m no longer dreading the night the same way I was when I was half naked in my room. I’m going to take it as a good sign.
I might not find the love of my life tonight, but I’m not at home on my couch, even though I kind of wish I was. I’m taking my life in my hands and doing something about it. That must count for something.
CHAPTER 2
SILAS
Ah, the day of love and chocolate and cherubs with arrows who have no business being foisted upon people. What a day. At least after today all this speed dating event stuff will be over.
It’s not even like I don’t believe in love and think it’s grand or anything like that. I do. I love love and I think romance should be alive and well in everyone’s life. What I don’t like is the holiday because I think love is an everyday, 365 kind of thing. Except on leap year, that year you get a day to be selfish because that shit is an anomaly in the time space continuum; necessary as it is.
Valentine’s Day is contrived, and this speed dating thing seems desperate as hell. Which is horribly judgmental of me. I know it. It doesn’t change how I feel about it.
I was a little put out when Maddox, my boss at the bistro where I’m the chef, told me about the event at Aces, the club he owns. I might not be a fan of speed dating, but I can see why it’s a good business decision to have an event like this. It gets people in the club, before it opens, and then you hope they stick around and have a drink with someone.
Even though I’m sure you’re supposed to leave and wait to be matched.
I wish I could say I didn’t give a shit about the tasting bites I’ve created, but I can’t. I take my job too damn seriously for me to phone it in, even if I think the possibility of knowing you’re interested in someone after only five minutes is ridiculous. The way Maddox, Axel and Steve, the other two owners of Aces, found love in an instant makes more sense to me than finding it after five minutes of stilted conversation.
At least that’s a story, you know, for the grandchildren or some shit. What kind of story is meeting at speed dating? Not one I would want to tell.
I can just imagine all the grandchildren gathered around the fire and being told, “I was herded around a room like a cow. At least they did more than sniff me to see if I was a match, but it’s not far off either.”
Or however this bullshit is supposed to work.
I’ve been hanging out in the back office after bringing the food in and setting it up. Slipping in here as people started to arrive and my role became superfluous was required, for my sanity. I left the food to the people the bosses have working the party and whoever is in charge of the event.
I didn’t care, so I didn’t ask.
I spent yesterday prepping and then today making sure the little bites I put together were up to my standards. I might have feelings about the whole speed dating thing, but I made sure to put my all into it. I always do when it comes to food. It’s my calling and I take my job fucking seriously.
The bites are sexy and each one is my own little nod to romance and love. I don’t know if anyone else will understand and if they’ll be able to taste it, but I guess it doesn’t matter. I know what I want people to taste when they experience my food.
Axel comes into the office and slumps down onto the couch next to me. “Hey man,” I sneer, “how’s it going out there?”
Axel rolls his eyes before he leans over and gives me a shove. “You need to figure out your shit.” When I arch an eyebrow at him in question, he shakes his head at me like he’s disappointed. I guess he has a reason to be. He met his woman, and he knew it immediately. Then he fought for her. I’m so damn busy, I don’t know where to start. “You’ve been all out of sorts about this speed dating thing. It doesn’t make any sense. Get over yourself.”
I flip him off. “I can’t explain it. The thought of speed dating, of five minutes dates and being paraded around, simply doesn’t sit right with me.”
Axel snorts out a laugh, “I don’t think this is the hill to die on, Silas, but if it’s what you want to do, I can’t stop you.” He eyes me. “I should have made you participate. I think you need to get laid.”
“Not all of us can meet their person at a random stranger photoshoot.”
He gives me a self-satisfied smirk, but I know what’s underneath it. Knowing she was the right woman wasn’t enough. It sure as hell didn’t make her fall into his lap. Kali, his wife, didn’t think she could be with a clean-cut guy like Axel, a businessman, not when she’s a piercer with more tattoos than some would think is socially acceptable and a wild streak a mile long.
He asks, curiosity filling his voice along with a side of you’re an idiot, “What’s the difference between a stranger photoshoot and speed dating?”
“I don’t know, man.” Regardless of whatever logic he’s going to try and use, I know it’s not the same. “These people out there are all here because they want something. It’s not natural. It’s not like you went to the photoshoot thinking you’d meet Kali,” I point out the last part as if it proves my reasoning even though I can hear how thin it is.
“Whatever, stick in the mud, the first round is almost done. Once you check on everything for the break, you can go.” He sighs, “It’s not like your anti-Valentine’s Day thing is the love parade we need around here.”
