Apart from hopefully having sex? I clear my throat. “I thought I might go to the cinema and treat myself to a meal out.”
“Oh, okay. Have a lovely time, sweetheart. Enjoy yourself. You deserve it.”
I stare at the screen as a notification pops up.Mark sent you a new message. Oh, holy shit.
“Take care, and you know where I am,” I tell her.
She waves. “Speak soon!” And she ends the call.
I tap the notification. It opens in the Tinder app, and there it is. A message from Mark.
Mark:Hi
Okay, so not a lot to go on. He couldn’t even be bothered to use any punctuation. Kids today…
My heart in my mouth, I reply with:Hello!
Mark:Sup
Me:Not much! I’ve been hanging out with my sister. She’s at Vic. What are you up to?
Mark:Work
Me:I see you’re a dentist!
Mark:Assistant yeah
Me:That must be interesting?
Mark:It’s okay
Me:You play WoW, right?
Mark:Yeah
Me:What class do you play?
Mark:Troll warrior
Me:Ooh, Horde? The enemy, LOL. I play a human paladin healer.
Mark:Okay
Jesus, this guy’s hard work.
Me:You have a dog in one of your photos. Is it yours?
Mark:No
Fuck me. I decide to take the bull by somewhere even more aggressive than his horns.
Me:Look, I’m new to Tinder. Do you normally chat for a while? Or would you prefer to meet up?
I wait for him to reply.
Ten minutes goes by.
I know he’s at work, so maybe he’s in the middle of an appointment or something? While I wait, I ring room service and ask for a latte to be sent up with a piece of chocolate cheesecake. Then I watch half an hour of a ridiculous game show on the TV.