Pretty Fly For A White Guy

Chapter 1

Hanna

I’ve hit refresh on my FindYourMatch inbox, probably a gazillion times now since noon, but still no message from Greg. It’s now 2:30 p.m. He must be very busy at work.

He did say he works for a bank, so I guess he won’t be able to respond until he’s done for the day.

Last night, he asked if we could go out on a date, and I accepted. Now, I’m too anxious to know if this date will even happen.

I need it to happen. I need to find a date for the upcoming High School reunion. Gosh, I’m such a loser.

Since I’m already on the dating site which I swore never to join before, I guess I’ll check out if there are other interesting profiles.

This one is twenty-three years old. A Realtor. He looks nice, but his teeth look funny ‘though.

Next profile. 

Oh, this one has nice abs, but he’s only 5’8”. Too short for me. 

Next profile.

Nope. Not that. 

Too tall. Too fat. Too old.

Ugh, I can’t seem to find someone who looks better than Greg. I know I’m being superficial, but if you’re looking at profiles of random strangers, you can’t help but look for the hottest one in the bunch.

I think I have had enough of these smiles and shirtless photos from strangers. Time for a nap.

After a refreshing three-hour nap, I check my inbox. Still no message from Greg. I’m beginning to worry.

Did he really mean it? Did he really want to meet me? I can understand if he wasn’t serious about it.

After all, we’ve only been chatting for a week, and I don’t have any other way to reach him yet besides FindYourMatch. What if he’s a fake? Or a catfish?

I don’t want to be alone with these thoughts, so I open my phone contacts and call Maxine.

“Hey, girl,” I say.

“Hey! Glad to know you’re still alive. I’ve left you a few messages,” Maxine replies with a chirpy tone.

“I know. Just got a little busy with stuff these days.”

“Hanna Alexanders, you’re my best friend. There’s no need to bullshit me. I know you’re just binge-watching Netflix shows again and eating chips, when not at work at the hospital. 

“Oh my God, Maxie, you know me so well.” I chuckle.

“I know you can’t see it, but I’m rolling my eyes right now.”

“I know you just miss me,” I tease. “But I called ‘cause I need you to help me with something. I’m just not sure if I’m doing this right.”

“I’m listening.”

“So you already know I have a FindYourMatch account, right?”

“Yup, you told me.”

“There’s this guy I’ve been exchanging messages with for a week now. He looks really good and he’s nice and funny and…”

“And what?”

“He asked me out, and I’m thinking of asking him to be my date for the High School reunion.”

Maxine doesn’t respond for a few seconds, which just makes me doubt myself even more.

“Maxie? You there? I need to know if this is a good idea”

“Honestly, I don’t think that’s a good idea. First of all, you don’t even know the guy. Second of all, my brother’s here. He’s going to the reunion and he doesn’t have a date yet.”

I can tell Maxwell Hart is the real reason Maxine doesn’t want me to ask someone from some dating site to be my date for the reunion. Maxine means well, I know. But Maxwell and I are done.

After our breakup, I’ve managed to pick myself up, recover, and move on. I’ve accepted that he’s no longer a part of my life anymore.

Now, he’s just the brother of my best friend. That’s all.

Maxwell has chosen his dream which was to join the FBI. He chose to leave me here in New York when he joined the police academy.

It hurt. But there’s nothing I could have done to make him stay with me. 

Maxwell was my High School sweetheart. I was a petite black woman, doe-eyed, and with short curly hair. I was a cheerleader when we met.

He was a year ahead of me. He was a popular basketball player, barely six-feet tall, a handsome white boy with amazing washboard abs which I used to love punching. I remember how hard those felt, and the grin he made when he took my useless punches. 

He was a good boyfriend. Damn, thinking about our past makes me hate myself for being single these days.

One look at the reunion guest list, and I knew he’s going too. I can’t let him pity me for being single or let him think of my going there alone as an invitation for us to get back together again.

“I know, Maxie, but it’s long been over between us,” I tell her. 

“It doesn’t have to be. You’re both single. Maybe there’s still—”

“Maxie, please,” I interject. “He’s not the only single man in the world.”

“That’s right, but I think he’s a better option compared to someone who might even be a serial killer or something. Also, I think he misses you. How about a friendly date with him?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Besides, this new guy, Greg, seems interesting.”

“The online guy who you only know through chats and some pictures? You aren’t even sure that person really exists,” Maxie insists.

“I’m hanging up now, Maxie.”

“Han-” 

I end the call with a sigh. I know if I listened to her any longer, she’ll convince me to go with Maxwell instead. I won’t ever admit this out loud, but I kind of miss him too. 

I check my inbox again and see a message from Greg. Finally.

Hey Hanna,

Sorry, it took me forever to respond. Had a busy day. I would love for you to meet me tonight at eight at The Palms. It’s near you, I think. 

Yours,

Greg

I smile as I read his message. Thank you, Greg, I think you just saved me from a bad decision.

Now, what shall I wear?