I squeezed my eyes shut, doing what I could to not inhale too deep. Because I knew if I did, I would smell it.
Smell...him.
His cologne. His natural musk. His essence. And that would be it. I would be done.
I knew he was as dead as my love life. Which, is why I ended up here.
So, with my eyes shut, and my nasal breaths shallow, I wiggled backward. Even though I knew it was totally hopeless to try to move away, seeing that we were chained together. But distancing myself, at least mentally, might keep me from losing what little mind I had left.
How we got here was no surprise. At least the final outcome.
But why...me?
I had always been good. Kind.
Well, sort of.
Am I being punished for his misjudgment?
Guilt by association, I suppose. By proximity. By proxy.
But, dammit.
Isn't this how it always happens?
Yes. That was it. I was being punished because I was standing too close. Too close and I got hit by the proverbial shrapnel of his wrong turn in life.
So, here I sat. Chained to what was left of a man I just met. In a room so dark you could barely see shapes, better yet, faces.
Okay. Screw it. I couldn't do this anymore.
Taking that deep breath I dreaded, I winced at the coppery smell that mixed with the other natural scents.
Well, not great, but, not as bad as I expected.
Alright.
Breathing in. Step one. Done.
Now, the eyes.
Slowly I parted them to slits.
Somewhat dark.
Okay, not bad.
I can do this.
Blinking them open further, I first, glanced down at myself.
From what I could see in the dim light had me groan externally.
Shit.
I just bought this shirt, and now it was totally ruined. Great.
With blood, all you needed was some cold water or club soda and bing-bang-boom, stains gone. But this? This was blood and sinew. And that was a completely different, very chunky, story.
Just gross.
So, with a sigh, I turned and wrinkled my nose at the lump next to me.
“What. A. Waste.”
I whispered out loud, then jumped at the shrill ding that pierced the air and shaded my eyes when the lights came up faster than I expected.
“Are we moving on, Miss?”
The handsome man said as he loomed over me, and I chuckled as I raised my wrist in the air.
“No. I've had enough for this evening. I can't take another one exploding like a pop rock in my mouth.”
The man smiled and helped me up as he unlocked my wrist.
“You know the risks, miss. Some are more eager than others.”
I nodded and wiped my bottom lip clean.
“I know.”
I turned to glance in the mostly empty room, then my eyes went back to my host and handed him a stack of cash.
“I think I'm done with speed dates.”
“That's too bad, miss. We just teamed up with Tinder.”
I narrowed my eyes and smiled, walking off.
“Hmmm, is that so?”
