Are You The One?

“I don’t know,” Tara answered breaking into Brit’s thoughts. “It just seems like you’re always avoiding him when he comes over.”

“I’m just trying to give you guys some privacy,” Brit explained.

“Yeah and you ditched me for Allison too,” Tara pouted.

“I didn’t ditch you for Allison. She’s single. I’m single. You’re still my b.f.f.,” she joked.

“I know. I guess I just miss hanging out with you. I was a little jealous,” Tara admitted.

“Jealous? That’s crazy. You have a great new relationship. I’m stuck with boring Allison trying to find what you have!”

“You seem so unhappy when he’s around,” Tara said.

“Trust me it has nothing to do with you two. If you must know, I’m just lonely.”

“Well now that you mention it… Eric asked me to ask you something last night. He has this friend, apparently he saw you at the gallery and has been asking about you. Maybe you could go on a double date with us.”

“I don’t know,” Brit hedged.

“Come on it’s just a date,” Tara nudged.

“What do you know about him?” Brit inquired.

“Eric says he’s a little older than us. I think Eric said thirty. And he’s really successful to be so young. He has his own company and he makes a ton of money.”

“You know that stuff doesn’t impress me.”

“Maybe not the money but you like ambitious men.”

“Why is he single?” Brit asked after a while.

“I don’t know. Eric did say he got out of a relationship about a year ago though.”

“Is he still in love with his ex? Because I really don’t want to be anyone’s therapist or rebound.”

“I’m not completely sure but Eric would not have suggested it if he thought so. He comes over tonight. We’ll ask him.”

“A blind date seems so…desperate,” Brit sighed.

“It’s not desperate. You never know he could be ‘the one’,” Tara teased.

“Eh…”

“Did I mention he could get us into Jade Gardens?” Tara asked with a grin.

“That’s so not fair.”

“Brit it’s been almost three months. You have to get yourself back out there and have some fun. Live a little. It’s just one date.”

“Fine. But only because I want to eat Chef Hunter’s cuisine so bad. He is my favorite celebrity chef.”

*****

That night when Eric arrived, Tara told him that Brit had agreed to go on the date.

“Wait I haven’t said yes yet. First what’s he like?” Brit inquired.

“He’s great. He and I went to school together. He was like an older brother to me. I pledged his fraternity. He’s great you’ll like him. We’ve been friends for a long time.”

“And that’s it? Who is he?” Brit pushed.

“And… He’s an investment banker and he comes from a wealthy family but he also makes his own money. Women seem to find him attractive,” Eric added.

“Like normal women or gold digging women?” Tara interjected.

Eric raised an eyebrow at her.

“What?” he asked with a chuckle.

“There is a difference you know,” she said sticking out her tongue.

“I don’t care about that stuff,” Brit sighed interrupting them. “Is he nice? Is he funny? Does he like dogs or cats?”

“Oh sorry. Most women don’t want to know that sort of thing when they ask me about him,” Eric answered sheepishly.

“I do. Money and looks don’t make the man,” Brit retorted.

“Touché,” Eric replied with a smirk.

“What kind of person is he? What’s his name?” she questioned.

“Well his name is Cliff.  He’s really smart, graduated in the top three percent of our class. He’s truly funny and fun to be around, he was hilarious in school, but only to those who knew him. Otherwise he’s pretty quiet and laid back. Except in business. He’s a shark professionally. He’s

athletic and into sports. We go golfing almost every other Saturday. Well we did before I met this beautiful woman,” he said glancing at Tara.

“Is golf…an athletic sport?” Brit teased.

“He also plays baseball for his company’s league,” Eric laughed.

“He sounds…nice,” Brit said unconvincingly.

“He is nice. He volunteers at the children’s hospital on Grove Avenue. And he donates to a lot of different charities, and not just money but time too.”

“Okay let’s see. He’s smart, funny, attractive, a philanthropist and he’s rich. A good role model and older frat brother. So what’s wrong with him?” Brit asked skeptically.

“Nothing is wrong with him. He moved to London a few years ago to head the International Bank of Europe. He came back home about five months ago and he’s single,” Eric explained.

“And his ex-girlfriend?” Brit asked hesitantly.

“She’s a great woman. Was in my year at school. They broke things off mutually. They tried the long distance thing when he moved but it was just too much for her. She wanted to start a family and Cliff wasn’t in that place yet. She recently got engaged as a matter of fact.”  

“I don’t know,” Brit evaded.

“Come on Brittany. It will be fun,” Tara urged.

“I can vouch for him. He’s a great guy,” Eric added.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have one date,” Brit conceded.

“Great how is this Friday?” Eric asked.

“Friday sounds perfect,” Tara replied quickly before Brit could change her mind.

“Great! I’ll let Cliff know,” Eric said with a grin.

He and Tara left soon after for their date and Brit was left to think about this mystery man. If she was being honest he seemed perfect. But she knew from experience that just because it seemed perfect didn’t necessarily make it so. She drifted off to sleep wondering what in the world she had to wear that would be appropriate for Jade Gardens.

*****

 On Friday Tara came to the rescue. She let Brit wear her red Chloe dress and matching heels. Brit wore her hair in an elegant but playful up do which exposed her long neck. She accessorized with a simple diamond necklace and matching earrings.