I can’t believe I just did that , replaying my actions in my head. My roommate blasting some 90’s music on the radio with the windows down and wind whipping through my hair. “Thanks again,” I said, my voice struggling to fight against the Cranberries. I was feeling very grateful for my roommate Marissa who picked me up from work after I had missed the bus. 

“Yea no problem, it must be harder since you broke up with Alex.”Marissa replied as she turned down the volume a tiny bit just making the car vibrate slightly less. 

“Yea..,” I said, feeling my heart get heavy. “He just wasn’t the one,” I commented even though Marissa probably couldn't hear me. I thought about how Alex proposed after only two months of dating. Even Marissa thought that was crazy and she’s the definition of crazy.

 Then the city's main radio station came on and a low voiced man was  announcing a blind date for free if you called the phone number. Maybe It was hearing my ex’s name or how it was literally the only thing I could hear and probably the cars next to us, but for the first time without thinking I pulled out my phone and cautiously dialed the number the man was repeating on the radio.The phone rang, “What are you doing?,” she mouthed her eyes wide as she turned the radio off. To be honest I didn’t have an answer to that, I thought. I cautiously placed the ringing phone on the center console as if it was a ticking time bomb. Then the ringing stopped and a woman's voice came on. “Congrats, you've won yourself a blind date with a man we’ve chosen just for you!.” The woman's accent was strong but I knew what she was saying, my heart sped up and sweat started to build up on my forehead. 

Then I got a text from the same number sending an address and time, Her eyes still wide Marissa asked where the date was. 

“Looks like a small Italian restaurant a bus ride away from our house,” I responded. Then her 2010 Honda sedan rolled into the driveway and I got out. I rummaged through my closet looking for an outfit for this mystery man I was going on a date with. After some time I was left defeated with nothing to wear. I sighed and sat on the edge of my bed. Then Marissa came up to my door frame with a knee length flowy dress and spaghetti straps. 

“Heard you needed some help,” she commented. 

“Oh my gosh that's perfect,” I gasped as she placed it in a heap next to me and walked away.

I looked in the mirror once more before I left, I didn’t even recognize the 21 year old woman with curled lashes and straightened gold hair nervously looking back at me. I walked down the street and my already pink cheeks got pinker as I swore I could feel everyone looking at me. So what if it was 7pm and the only people in sight were a group of homeless guys on the sidewalk? My dress felt weightless and it bounced as I walked to the corner and got on the bus a few minutes later. A million thoughts were going through my head as I sat down in the back of the almost empty bus. 

After what felt like an eternity the mono-tone voice of the bus announced my stop and I stumbled hazily off the bus but snapped out of it as the cold air of San Francisco hit me. I followed the map on my phone to the small dimly lit restaurant. I met a short man with an apron and name tag that read Steve. Before I could say anything Steve took my hand and led me to the back of the restaurant where a few other people were eating and talking quietly. “Ah, here you are!” he said, guiding me to a small two person table. One chair was occupied by a very broad man with curly hair and dark stubble. “You must be Katie” he stated, his voice was deep and strong. 

“Yes” I said my voice sounded like a mouse compared to his.He stood up to shake my hand, he was tall and his handshake was firm, He introduced himself as Daniel Cambell from Los Angeles. I replied with my name and told him I was born and raised in SF. I sat down and we started to talk. I learnt he was here finishing his PhD in sports analytics and was thinking about moving here. Daniel checked off all my boxes, he was sweet, patient, and very thoughtful. I told him how I finished college at UCSF and was now working at a local cafe. The waiter came and we ordered a large pepperoni pizza to share. We continued to talk, and talk and talk, it felt like we were destined to meet. Finally the waiter apologetically said they were closing and we needed to leave. It’s closing already?, checking my watch and eternally gasping as it was almost 9pm. We walked out of the restaurant together and the street lights glowed. Daniel’s skin looked almost golden. “Bye Daniel” I said as I turned around towards the bus stop. 

“Wait!” he says, I turned around and walked up to him with my phone in my hand. He leaned in, Was he going to kiss me? He smelled like cologne and was kinda minty. 

“Yes?” I almost whispered his face close to mine then he took my phone and stepped back. I sighed a sigh of relief but also disappointment. 

“Can I add my number?” he asked nervously, which was weird from such a strong man.

 “Yeah,” I said as he typed it in and placed it back in my hand. 

“Goodbye Katie,” he said and walked into the darkness of the night. I was glad it was dark so he couldn't see me blushing. As I dreamily walked to the bus stop, I felt like walking on air. 

I got on the bus and my dreamy rainbow bubble was popped by the bus driver, a larger woman with thinning copper hair and permanently furrowed brows. “Are you gonna pay?” she said irritated. Oh shoot digging through my small brown purse to find only a quarter. “I'm sorry I don't have any change” I said quietly hoping she’d let it slide this once. 

“I can’t help you sweetie,” she said looking down on me from her driver's chair. I embarrassedly started to get off the bus, then a loud voice shouted

 “I don’t think that would be necessary!” I jerked my head to the back of the bus where the voice was coming from. Then a man who looked about my age with curly  light brown almost blonde hair. He moved towards me and put 6 quarters into the slot. His rain colored eyes gleamed down at me. 

“Thanks” I say with a small smile creeping onto my face. Now the very irritated bus driver yells,

 “Sit down!” I followed him to two bus seats across from each other. 

“How can I repay you?” I asked, sitting down into the bus seat. I've seen this guy on the bus a few times before so he must live in the area I realized. Then he rips a little piece of paper from a notebook in his backpack, scribbles something on it and hands it to me. 

“Well here’s my number, if you want to grab coffee sometime.” I was flattered. “I’m Flynn by the way,” he said sticking out his hand, 

“I’m Katie,” I said with my hand, meeting his. He grinned and his smile made me nervous for some reason. His perfect white teeth and soft pale pink lips.

 “I guess we’re even now,” he commented, breaking the short  silence. And then without saying goodbye he got off and winked at me through the window as the bus trailed away from him getting smaller and smaller by the second. My jaw relaxed as I was smiling the whole time I was on the bus, and I let out a huff of air. Once at home I flung myself onto my off white duvet covers on my full sized bed. I replayed that night over and over, Daniel who was so perfect and good looking but Flynn who was exciting and equally as handsome. My eyes fluttered closed and I drifted off to sleep, then I was blinded by bright lights, people cheering and clapping. I was on a stage in front of Daniel and Flynn.

 “Katie, the last two contestants of you must choose between to win the show!” Announced a middle aged man with a bright suit and colorful hat. I nervously looked between the two men, Flynn from the bus, charismatic and charming personality pulled me in. But Daniel from the absolutely amazing blind date, kind thoughtful my perfect type who’s the male version of me. The man with the colorful suit started counting down from ten, I started to panic, I couldn't choose and the loud ticking was making me even more stressed than I already was. Five, four, three, two… My eyes shot open, I gasped as if coming up for air. Sweat building  on my neck and checks.

Now what? I thought   , Marissa had said to hangout with each of them to see if there’s a deal breaker or I have a stronger connection with one of them. That’s when I decided to text Flynn. “Would you like to get repaid today?” I typed, hoping he’d understand the joke. He responded almost immediately: “Coffee at 9?” Nine!?  It was 8:30 now. I quickly got ready and dressed and was almost out the door when Marissa stopped me, “makeup at 9am?” She said accusingly, “yeah”I said grinning and skipping out the door. The fog was rolling into the streets from the ocean and I was grateful I had brought a windbreaker jacket. I got to the coffee shop and almost ran over to Flynn when I saw him sitting alone at a small table outside the cafe. “Hey” I said trying not to sound too eager, 

“Hi,” he said enthusiastically. Together we made our way to the cashier he orderedj and then it was my turn and before I could think I ordered a latte. We sat at the same table I found him at and sipped our coffee. Then it hit me he just paid for me, again! “How much do I owe you?” I asked casually looking into my purse. Then I was horrified to find that I had yet again forgotten cash. He must have seen my reaction and smirked “I guess you’ll have to repay me again” I laughed. This guy was good. I got home with a smile from ear to ear, then I got a text from Daniel, “Hey, wanna grab coffee maybe?” Shoot, things were going so well with Flynn I completely forgot about him. “Maybe tomorrow” I replied, guilt tugging at my heart. The next morning just like the next I took the bus to another coffee shop and met Daniel. This time I paid for my own coffee, and we started to chat “Do you travel much?” I asked “No, not really I like my home city” That’s exactly what I said to Marissa after she asked if I wanted to go to Mexico last year. I laughed and smiled at how similar me and Daniel were. We talked for so long about work, family and just life in general that I was late for work. I ran to the bus stop and prayed the bus would magically be faster today. It wasn’t and I got harsh scolding from my boss about punctuation and commitment. At work I was even more confused, I’m such a player I realized  which was kind of funny to me. Once I got home I knew I needed to talk to someone, Marissa. I sat down on her bed as she typed away on her laptop. 

“So how’s your little love triangle?” She asked half jokingly and half concerned. I told her about the two coffee dates, “Well who did you text first?” She asked her therapist, 

“Huh?”.

“Like who did you text first?”

 “Well..Flynn I guess” I realized. Marissa somehow always knew what to say whenever I needed her help. “ So how’s Jax?” I asked, feeling bad we were always talking about me. 

“Oh we broke up” she said unfazed. 

“Oh no” I replied even though I didn’t feel much sympathy for boyfriend number six. “Yeah he was just too…I don’t know, crazy and out of control.”She sighed, “Okay, I’m going for a walk,”

Half an hour later Marissa came back with the biggest grin on her face. “What’s with the grin?” I noticed after 10 minutes of her skipping around the house.

“Am I not allowed to be happy?” She said fake insults. I gave her a look which forced her to spill the beans. “Okay fine I met this guy on my walk” 

I wasn’t surprised but I acted like I had just won the lottery, “wow I’m so happy for you Marissa what’s his name?” 

“Uhh…well I kinda forgot to ask” 

I also was not surprised about that, Marissa in my opinion is very pretty, her brunette hair  and matching eyes. “Wait, what if we all went on a double date?” She asked excitedly. 

My heart was already convinced that Flynn was the one but I was scared, he was fun and spontaneous, I didn’t want to get hurt again. Daniel was so calm and predictable so there was nothing to be worried about. I thought about what one of my friends said after the breakup, sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith. Also maybe a quote I found online but still. I took a breath and Marissa was now in the shower, so I could have a second to think without her opinion. Finally I gave in and decided I will have to have faith in Flynn. After anxiously waiting for a week the weekend came where me and Marissa were going to have dinner with Flynn and this mystery man. I got ready in a rush not wanting to be late, Marissa was waiting for me at the door looking perfect like always. At the restaurant we were the first ones to arrive so we waited for the guys to arrive. Flynn came first which made me happy that he was punctual. He slid on the wood bench next to me and handed me a bouquet of flowers. They smelled sweet and fresh, Marissa had a twinge of jealousy in her expression as she watched. Then to my surprise Daniel walked through the door and his face dropped when I saw him. Anger filled my body but then Flynn put a hand on my shoulder and I looked into his deep blue eyes and I forgot about Daniel for a whole minute. Then I put on a smile and decided to be happy for him because this could be a good thing I convinced myself. The date went a lot smoother than I Thought we even laughed a few times. At home I felt like a million pounds was lifted off my breaking back.  

The End