A Year to Remember(24)
“You always bite your lower lip when you’re anxious. It’s cute.”
“No, I don’t.” No one had ever told me I did that. Could he be right? Even if he was right, I was floored he knew me that well.
“Ask Missy, if you don’t believe me.”
“I will.”
“So, what’s your answer?”
Even though I had prepared to ask the same question, I hadn’t thought about how I would answer it. I guess it did make me anxious to think about what I wanted for my future past my next birthday.
“I want to live in a house in the suburbs with two point four kids, a dog, and two goldfish.”
“And a husband?”
I blushed at his question. “Of course a husband. That was to be implied by the house and the kids.”
“Don’t forget the dog and the goldfish.”
“Right,” I muttered.
“I didn’t think you liked fish.”
He really did know me. “I don’t like fish, but our kids won them at the Purim carnival, so what could we do?”
His eyebrow shot up at my comment. “Our kids?”
Oh God, did I really say that? I meant the hypothetical husband and my kids. “Not yours and mine,” I stammered, trying to convince both him and me.
He started to say something, but Ruth rang the bell and our six-minute date was over.
“Good luck, Sara,” he said quietly before moving to the next table.
For a moment, I wanted to stop him and say something. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say, only that I wanted to say something. He always confused me.
When my next date sat, my confusion over Goldman was forgotten. Ryan introduced himself and smiled at me.
“Why do you need speed dating? I’m sure you have plenty of guys lining up to take you out.”
“That’s sweet of you to say, but no, no guys lining up at my door,” I responded, entranced by his blue eyes.
“Well lucky for me.”
“What about you? You must have plenty of women throwing themselves at you.”
“It’s hard to find nice Jewish girls in my line of work.”
As tempted as I was to ask him what line of work he was in, I stuck to my guns and didn’t ask.
“What do you do for fun?”
“Concerts, swimming, and traveling.”
“What kind of concerts do you go to?”
My parents took me to my first concert when I was eight years old. I loved the atmosphere of the outdoor pavilion, thousands of people singing and dancing along to the music. Since then, I’ve been to hundreds of concerts from all types of artists in all types of genres-classical, country, rock, and pop.
“I used to be a head banger.”
“Somehow, I don’t see it,” I said.
“I’ve changed a lot over the last twenty years.”
That meant he was probably in his mid to late thirties.
“What are you seeking in a relationship?”
“I’m searching for my soul mate, a partner to settle down with and have children.”
Here I am! I nodded and tried to give him the look which suggested he had found his soul mate and didn’t need to look any further.
Ruth rang her little bell. I was starting to dislike Ruth and her bell.
“It was nice meeting you, Sara.”
“You, too.”
With no doubts in my mind, I circled Ryan’s number and prayed he’d circle mine. I wanted to know more about him and maybe go see a concert with him. I just couldn’t picture him head banging to the music. I’d have to see it with my own two eyes to believe it.
After Ryan, the last two paled in comparison. I don’t think I even tried to get to know them. I didn’t bother circling their names.
At the end of our dates, we were told to wait thirty minutes in the other room while the results were prepared. After, we could pick it up at the table where we registered.
I scanned the room for Missy and found her talking with Steffi and Elana almost exactly where I had left them. I guess they weren’t much for mingling.
“How did it go?”
“I’m hoping for three matches, but we’ll see.” Honestly, if I only match with Ryan, I’d still be pleased.
“Is Goldman one of those matches you’re hoping for?”
“Of course not.”
“You know, fate seems to be throwing you two together.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s not fate throwing us together. It’s the fact it’s a small Jewish community and we can’t avoid each other.”
“If you say so.”
Missy and I had a drink before I picked up the card with the results. I matched with both Max and Ryan. Not too bad for an hours work.
Goldman came to me. “How’d you do?”
“I got two matches,” I gloated. “How about you?”