I thought I had learned enough from previous relationships to recognize potential problems early.
Apparently, I still had a few lessons to learn.
At 32, I had been single for long enough that the idea of dating again felt both exciting and exhausting. My previous relationship hadn’t ended with a dramatic argument. It had simply faded over time, leaving me with a quiet apartment and a predictable routine.
My sister Erin eventually decided I needed to get out of that routine.
One evening, she came over for dinner and encouraged me to create a dating profile.
“You can’t avoid dating forever,” she told me.
“I’m not avoiding it.”
She gave me a look.
“Okay,” I admitted. “Maybe a little.”
Eventually, I downloaded a dating app.
That was how I met Chloe.
A Promising Conversation
Chloe immediately stood out.
She was confident, humorous, and easy to talk to. We exchanged messages for several days, discussing everything from travel and movies to some of the unusual experiences that come with online dating.
Eventually, she suggested meeting for dinner.
Before agreeing, I wanted to make one thing clear.
“I usually prefer to split the bill on a first date,” I told her. “I just think it’s better when both people know what to expect.”
Chloe agreed.
“That’s completely fair.”
With that settled, we arranged to meet at a seafood restaurant she recommended.
At the time, I had no reason to think there would be a problem.
An Enjoyable Evening
