The Do-Over(17)

Drifting off to sleep, I was already hoping that when I woke, waiting for me would be a personal message from Matthew, continuing our conversation.

One of the things I’d learned in life was to expect it when you least expect it and after my most unpleasant date, ending the evening on such a pleasant note was highly unexpected.





Chapter 8


Addiction is so easy to understand was my first thought upon waking. My hand was already reaching for my phone before my eyelids were fully opened. With a flick of my finger my PerfectDate.com account page appeared and the little red heart glowed, indicating messages in my chat threads. Yes! Now I just hoped that there was one from Matthew.

Lightly touching the heart, the next screen popped up. There were messages from three people. Someone named Hike4Food, Todd the car rapist, and Rob Lowe’s look-a-like, Matthew. Yes!

Brunch

Just one word. Not even a question mark. Was the man inviting me out? Hmmm, how to respond?

It’s one of my four favorite meals ? I smiled as I typed.

Taking my phone with me down the hall to the kitchen, I placed it on the granite countertop as I hit the coffeemaker’s on-switch and stood twirling the K-cup rack, feeling extreme ambivalence at my uninspired choices. I wanted a large Americano with an extra shot of espresso; taste the rich, full flavor seconds before it coursed through my veins, blasting me off like a capsule of focused energy.

As soon as it dinged, my hand was poised to grab the phone.

What do you like to eat?

I rolled my eyes at the early morning double-entendre. Dude, I need my caffeine first. For brunch?

Yes, for brunch.

The olives in a Bloody Mary. Oh, and the celery and shrimp, too.

I have the perfect place for us?

Bwahahaha, I’ll bet you do. Your bed?

If you insist.

Forget it, you haven’t fed me yet.

Well, I WAS trying to get you to brunch first at a place that has a build your own Bloody Mary bar.

Hmm, that does sound promising. Do they have shrimp? My mouth was watering as I imagined the peppery concoction.

As a matter of fact, they have JUMBO shrimp.

Jumbo shrimp sounds like an oxymoron to me. You online guys, hmmph, exaggerating the size of everything!

I just spit coffee on my keyboard, Carissa.

A man who spits. Hmmm, is it okay if I spit then? Where was this crazy, forward woman coming from? I was so bold and ballsy, hidden and untouchable behind the electronic wizard’s curtain. I was no less a sham than Oz’s wizard. I just had better equipment, a rose-gold MacBook and the latest iPhone.

I love your sense of humor.

Thanks.

So, come meet me. It’s still an acceptable brunch hour.

We just met last night. Too fast for me.

Brunch next weekend.

My immediate thought was that I had Scarlett home next weekend, How about this, I proposed, if we are still talking in two weeks, and feel so inclined, we can meet for brunch then.

Two weeks???? You know that’s forever in internet years. We could own a house together by then.

LOL and be broken up I added.

I have a feeling you are worth the wait.

Rob Lowe’s look-a-like had me smiling and sighing and by the time we wished one another a good day, I was telling myself that I deserved this, after living through a cheating husband and being “turned in” for a younger model with perkier tits and an ass that was still too young to suffer the devastating effects of gravity, that handsome, amusing Matthew was my due. If he really looked like his pictures and was as normal as he seemed, then I could get over having to find a new dentist.



“Chris isn’t in this morning?” I was surprised to see the lights out in my boss’ office and his door shut at 10:30 A.M. on a Friday morning.

“No, today’s that charity golf tournament thing for the Breast Cancer Resource Council.” His admin, Donna, looked up from her laptop.

“I didn’t realize that was today. Well, they certainly got a gorgeous day for it.” It was a perfect early spring day, not a cloud in the sky and temps in the mid-60’s.

The Breast Cancer Resource Council was one of three charities our company, O’Donnell and Associates, supported through both monetary donations and services-in-kind. We often developed pro-bono videos for the BCRC as well as Autism Speaks and the Humane Society and regularly purchased tables at the organization’s black tie fundraisers. It was customary for us to invite and entertain our clients at these events which were generally packed with celebrities, as well as scions of business.

My boss, Chris O’Donnell, the company’s founder, was a man who walked-the-walk. The only one of three sons not to embrace the priesthood, the charismatic Irishman learned early in life that his easy charm and persuasive powers could be used for good without donning a frock and collar or disappointing the women drawn to his green eyes and sandy-colored hair. A master at hiring, Chris built a world-class video production company recognized for our award-winning work, and he expected all employees’ ethos to be synergistic with his own.

Less than a year after he formed the company, a recruiter introduced me to Chris, convincing me that I should talk to the president of this small start-up. “He sizes people up quickly, so don’t be surprised if you’re out of there in twenty minutes. I’ve sent him seven graphic artists and none of them have made it past the twenty-minute point.”