Janet is a 28-year-old writer and actress who lives on the city’s north edge with her miniature poodle. She loves football and baseball, old music, road trips, and making stupid jokes, and describes herself as quirky and cute. She says her primary relationship goals are “finding the right guy and settling down.” Janet had been single for three weeks when she met Daniel.
I had just gotten out of a relationship with a rather unintelligent man-boy in his mid-30s, which left me quite bitter. I counted all the men I had gone out with since age 16, and the total was 49. I felt defeated by that, but I started chatting online with a new guy anyway.
After an incredibly awkward first phone conversation, Daniel and I decided to meet at a local Chapters. I was pretending to look at novels when a very tall, handsome man in a motorcycle jacket came over to me. After the initial 10 minutes of awkwardness, he said a few funny things to break the tension. We decided to leave the store, and the conversation flowed easily for the next two hours. He was heading to Cuba for his friend’s wedding the following week, but he told me he’d like to see me when he got back, and hugged me. I figured this was a kiss-off, so I wasn’t surprised when he didn’t call. I tried to forget about Daniel, but I spent two evenings crying, wishing he’d phone or text me.
Two weeks later, I got a message in the middle of the night that said, “I’d love to tell you all about Cuba, maybe over dinner sometime this week?” I was so excited.
Our second date was very awkward. We knew we liked each other, and we were both nervous wrecks. That gave way to an even more awkward third movie date—we barely said two words to each other during while it was playing. When the film was over, I suggested we go sit somewhere and talk. At that point, my nerves were so terrible that I said, “I don’t think I’m ready for anything more than friendship right now.”
After that comment, things suddenly began to change. We sat on a bench for an hour, getting into very personal details about our lives and sharing personal stories. Daniel walked me to my car, but we couldn’t stop talking, so I suggested he sit in the car with me and I’d drive him to where he was parked. By the end of the night, we were finishing each other’s sentences. I texted my best friend when I got home, saying, “I’m going to marry Daniel.” Nine months later, that’s where we’re headed. We already know the names of our future children and dogs. A guidance counsellor once told me that “sometimes it takes 100 guys before you meet the right one.” I consider myself very lucky that the 50th time was the charm.
Janet rates her date (out of 10): 10
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