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“Youwouldn’t be someone they’d even consider vetting.Ifanything, they’d veto you on the spot simply because you were my selection.Unlessyou look and speak just like them, or they know of you, they have no reason to trust my judgment.”Mymouth twisted for a self-deprecating smile. “Ihave made the wrong choice so many times thatI’veturned into the girl who cried wolf.EvenwhenIdo make the right decision, they no longer have faith in it.”
Igrimaced when he didn’t react to my words.Anyonewould feel rejected upon hearing such a statement.Justbecause we’d never see each other after tonight didn’t meanIwanted to put the guy down.
Iwanted to soothe the blow somehow.TellAxelhe was good enough to date any women or that my family and friends were pretentious for dismissing him based on superficial reasons.Asmuch asIwanted to blame them,Icouldn’t.
Icringed, remembering the stitchesJordanhad sported on my account, and all she asked in return was to stop my self-destructive ways.Theywere within their rights to demand thatIstop dating men likeAxel.NeitherJordannorMilanwould bring this type of calamity to my life.
Tomy surprise,Axeldidn’t seem offended, though he had every right to be.IfIwasn’t mistaken, he didn’t seem to agree with my assessment, and his curious tone prodded for more information. “Whatare these supposed mistakes?”
Oh,God.Ireally didn’t want to divulge the history of my failed relationships. “Myinability to weed out crappy humans is what ultimately cost me my family’s respect,”Isaid tentatively, struggling to phrase my answer. “I’ma poor judge of character.”
Disconcertinggaze moved over my face. “Howso?”
Isighed, giving in. “Youknow how everyone puts their best foot forward to make a good first impression?WhileIbuy into the façade, others seem capable of differentiating genuine versus disingenuous people during the initial vetting phase.”Igestured at the stage whereMissyLustywas currently performing a chair routine toChristinaMilian’s“DipitLow.” “Seethat woman?Othersin my clique would take one look at her and have the preconceived notion that she is bad news.WhereasIdon’t see the problem in us becoming the best of friends.”
Ishook my head, imagining the look on my mother’s face ifIintroducedMissyLustyas my new friend.Oh, the travesty.
Thenagain,Ihad been proven wrong so many times.SoperhapsMomhad a point in her evaluation.
“Ihate judging a book by its cover, butI’mstarting to think maybeIshould,”Iadmitted quietly.
“Thereis nothing wrong with giving people a chance.”
Iscoffed. “Notif you’re too optimistic.Nomatter how muchIbelieve the best in people, they let me down.”
“What’sthe common denominator?”
“Pardon?”
“Yousaid people keep letting you down.Whatseems to be the common turning point in these situations?”
Noone had phrased that question before, andIconsidered it for a moment. “IguessI’mgenerous with money.IfsomeoneIcare about doesn’t have much of it,I’mhappy to chip in.However, it’s caused numerous bad habits to develop in the past.Peoplestart expecting me to pave the way, and soonIcan’t tell if they like me or they are using me.”
Ilooked away at the painful reminder and caught the end ofMissyLusty’sperformance.Aperfect set of tits stayed in place even though she was upside down on the pole.Itwas an impressive move.Themasses shared the sentiment and cheered her on, throwing singles on the stage.
Theonly eyes not onMissyLustybelonged to the man next to me.Myheart slammed against my chest whenIfound him staring at me. “Whyare you looking at me?”
Heshrugged. “Ilike looking at you.”
Nomatter how often he had done it tonight,Iwas dumbstruck by his constant brutal honesty.SometimesIdidn’t know what to make of it.
“Ienvy your lack of filter,”Iadmitted.
“Youcan become just like me,” he alluded. “Nofilters.Nohang-ups.Becomean open book,Princess.Andyou can start by telling me your name.”
Ithrew my head back and laughed wholeheartedly.Icouldn’t believe it.Myincredibly shitty day had been replaced by a somewhat tolerable one.Infact,Iwas now laughing so hard that it left me with tears. “Younever give up, do you?”Isaid, wiping the moisture from the corner of my eye.
Mylaughter hardly dissuaded him from his objective. “Ifyou won’t tell me your name, then tell me everything else about you.”
“That’lltake all night.Iam supposed to finish this bucket list byMonday.”
“Areyou dying onMonday?”
“Well, no…”
“ThenIsuppose we have time.Talk.”
Theassertiveness in his voice made me want to divulge.Whatwas it about him that was so domineering yet comforting?
