Chapter 5 Dating Game

• Samantha’s POV
• When I got to my apartment that evening, I slammed the door in anger.
• "Who the hell does he think he is?"
• I muttered, storming into my living room. I rummaged through my bag for my phone, my fingers practically shaking as I dialed Rosy's number.
• Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!
• Finally, she picked up, but before she could get a word in, I started.
• “I told you that guy looked like an arrogant prick! But no, you told me not to judge a book by its cover.” I huffed, kicking off my shoes and watching them skid across the floor before I dropped onto my couch, tossing my bag aside.
• “Take a deep breath, Samantha,” Rosy said calmly on the other end.
• I inhaled and exhaled, not once, not twice, but three times, trying to get my frustration under control.
• “Are you feeling any better now?” she asked gently.
• I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah,” I replied, leaning back on the couch and closing my eyes.
• “Alright. Now, tell me what happened.”
• “Oh, where do I even begin?”
• I let out a frustrated laugh, my mind replaying every miserable detail of the evening.
• “First off, he shows up forty minutes late. No apology, no explanation, nothing. He just waltzes in, looking all… ridiculously good unfortunately but with zero respect for my time.”
• “Oh boy,” Rosy said, her tone half amused, half sympathetic.
• “What a catch.”
• “Right? And then, get this: he orders for himself without even asking if I wanted anything!” I scoffed, shaking my head at the memory. “It was like he was on a one-man mission to make me feel like an afterthought. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, he has the nerve to act bored the entire time. Like I was just some... inconvenience.”
• “Wow,” Rosy said, the humor gone from her voice now.
• “I can’t believe he was that awful. He seriously sounds like a nightmare.”
• “A total nightmare,” I agreed, gripping the edge of the couch cushion.
• “And then, when I called him out on it, he actually suggested that if I was so ‘bothered,’ I could just leave. Like he was doing me a favor by showing up at all!”
• “Ugh, what a jerk,” Rosy sighed.
• “Did you at least get a chance to put him in his place?”
• “Oh, you bet I did,” I said, smirking despite myself. “I told him I hoped we’d never cross paths again because if I ever see him, things will definitely get ugly. Then, I walked out of there without a second look.”
• “Well, good for you!” Rosy cheered. “Honestly, it sounds like he got exactly what he deserved. And trust me, he’ll probably be haunted by you and that exit for a long, long time.”
• “Let’s hope so,” I replied, sinking further into the couch.
• Rosy laughed softly. “See? Now you can look back and laugh… sort of?”
• “Sort of,” I agreed, though I knew the memory of Julian and his arrogance would linger for a while yet.
• “Look, Rosy, I know you mean well, but dating is just not for me,” I said, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I just want to focus on work, save up, and put everything I have into my art business. I don’t need a man to enjoy my Christmas holiday, alright?”
• Rosy’s voice came through the phone, undeterred. “Samantha, come on. I know the first two dates were disasters, but what if the third or fourth one is better? You can’t just give up after a couple of rough starts!”
• I rolled my eyes, though she couldn’t see it. “If the first two dates were disasters, then I’m pretty sure the rest will just be chaos waiting to happen.”
• I shook my head getting up from the couch. I walked over to the fridge and pulled out a cold bottle of water. Twisting the cap, I took a long sip, trying to calm myself down.
• “Look,” she continued, “you don’t quit until you’ve tried all your options. Give the blind dates another chance, and if you go through all four and aren’t interested in any of them, then I’ll drop it. I promise.”
• I took a deep breath, weighing her words. Surviving two more dates sounded torturous, but if it got her off my back for good, it might be worth it.