like five minutes, I glance over at the alarm
clock on the bedside table to find that it’s actually four in the
morning. Seeing that I won’t be getting any sleep tonight, I get
out of bed, pull on my dark gray sweats and a white t-shirt, and go
downstairs to the hotel’s all-night gym in an attempt to clear my
head.
My week here in Vegas comes to an end, and
it’s finally time to go home. I’m more than pleased with how things
are progressing for the new hotel, but am happy to be going home. I
pack up my things and go downstairs to the hotel lobby to meet the
driver who will be taking me to the airport.
During the flight home, I think about the
emails and the few short phone calls that I’ve had with Zoie over
the past week. We do seem to have a few things in common, and we do
want a lot of the same things. She is definitely beautiful, seems
to be extremely driven and has a very playful side to her…I like
playful.
After getting unpacked and settled, I call
Zoie to make arrangements to meet. She has suggested that we meet
for a drink tonight around seven at a restaurant in Redondo Beach.
Simple and quick, if need be, just in case I need a fast escape. I
did find it odd that she chose a restaurant, not an actual bar. But
I try not to over-think it and remain positive. It is just a drink
after all.
I dress in jeans and a black and gray
graphic t-shirt…casual, but still stylish enough, I decide. Summer
is coming to an end, and it’s cooler at night now, but the
restaurant is casual, so I decide to leave the dress shirt at home
tonight.
I pull up to the restaurant, take a deep
breath, get out of my Hummer and walk inside. She said that she
would meet me near the hostess station promptly at seven, but I
must have beat her, because here I stand—alone. I take a seat on
one of the benches near the front door and wait.
And wait…
And wait…
Twenty minutes pass, and I am just about to
leave, when literally out of nowhere—because it wasn’t from the
front door of the restaurant—appears this young girl. But it wasn’t
Zoie. This girl must be all of nineteen. She touches my shoulder
and softly squeaks out my name.
“Donovan?” She smiles, but I quickly sense
that something is wrong here.
“Yes, I am Donovan. Do I know you?” Is this
her little sister, sent here to let me down easy? Christ, what the
fuck is going on?
“Yes…I mean, no.” She shakes her head then
stares down at the floor.
“Yes? No? Would you please tell me what is
going on here?” Alright, now I am getting irritated. Am I being
punked?
“Donovan, it’s me…Zoie. But before you get
mad, let me explain.” She pleads, her eyes filled with sincerity
and worry.
Zoie? Aww, fuck. Come on! This is not
happening. “You’re Zoie? Christ, not here.” I take her by the arm
and lead her outside to the parking lot. “Explain.” I fold my arms
across my chest, standing before her trying my best to remain calm.
I won’t lie, I am fucking pissed. Who is this girl and how dare she
lie to me!
“I know, not what you expected right? Just
listen to me, please. I saw your profile, and it said that you were
looking for girls from 25-30 and, well…as you can see, I’m not. I
wanted you to get to know me, then decide. We’re so perfect for
each other—age doesn’t matter, right?” She stares into my eyes
searching for the answer she wants to hear, but fuck if she will be
getting it.
“So, none of it was true? You just made all
of that shit up to what, impress me? This conversation is over!”
Disappointed and furious, I can only shake my head, remind myself
that I am a gentleman and walk away at this point. “Take care,
Zoie.”
I start walking to my Hummer as she runs up
from behind, grabbing my arm. “Donovan please, I didn’t really make
it up. Well, I did, but other than going to school for Forensics,
the rest was all me. Alright…and the picture. Please, just give me
a chance.”
Fuck, and here come the water works. I
clock on the bedside table to find that it’s actually four in the
morning. Seeing that I won’t be getting any sleep tonight, I get
out of bed, pull on my dark gray sweats and a white t-shirt, and go
downstairs to the hotel’s all-night gym in an attempt to clear my
head.
My week here in Vegas comes to an end, and
it’s finally time to go home. I’m more than pleased with how things
are progressing for the new hotel, but am happy to be going home. I
pack up my things and go downstairs to the hotel lobby to meet the
driver who will be taking me to the airport.
During the flight home, I think about the
emails and the few short phone calls that I’ve had with Zoie over
the past week. We do seem to have a few things in common, and we do
want a lot of the same things. She is definitely beautiful, seems
to be extremely driven and has a very playful side to her…I like
playful.
After getting unpacked and settled, I call
Zoie to make arrangements to meet. She has suggested that we meet
for a drink tonight around seven at a restaurant in Redondo Beach.
Simple and quick, if need be, just in case I need a fast escape. I
did find it odd that she chose a restaurant, not an actual bar. But
I try not to over-think it and remain positive. It is just a drink
after all.
I dress in jeans and a black and gray
graphic t-shirt…casual, but still stylish enough, I decide. Summer
is coming to an end, and it’s cooler at night now, but the
restaurant is casual, so I decide to leave the dress shirt at home
tonight.
I pull up to the restaurant, take a deep
breath, get out of my Hummer and walk inside. She said that she
would meet me near the hostess station promptly at seven, but I
must have beat her, because here I stand—alone. I take a seat on
one of the benches near the front door and wait.
And wait…
And wait…
Twenty minutes pass, and I am just about to
leave, when literally out of nowhere—because it wasn’t from the
front door of the restaurant—appears this young girl. But it wasn’t
Zoie. This girl must be all of nineteen. She touches my shoulder
and softly squeaks out my name.
“Donovan?” She smiles, but I quickly sense
that something is wrong here.
“Yes, I am Donovan. Do I know you?” Is this
her little sister, sent here to let me down easy? Christ, what the
fuck is going on?
“Yes…I mean, no.” She shakes her head then
stares down at the floor.
“Yes? No? Would you please tell me what is
going on here?” Alright, now I am getting irritated. Am I being
punked?
“Donovan, it’s me…Zoie. But before you get
mad, let me explain.” She pleads, her eyes filled with sincerity
and worry.
Zoie? Aww, fuck. Come on! This is not
happening. “You’re Zoie? Christ, not here.” I take her by the arm
and lead her outside to the parking lot. “Explain.” I fold my arms
across my chest, standing before her trying my best to remain calm.
I won’t lie, I am fucking pissed. Who is this girl and how dare she
lie to me!
“I know, not what you expected right? Just
listen to me, please. I saw your profile, and it said that you were
looking for girls from 25-30 and, well…as you can see, I’m not. I
wanted you to get to know me, then decide. We’re so perfect for
each other—age doesn’t matter, right?” She stares into my eyes
searching for the answer she wants to hear, but fuck if she will be
getting it.
“So, none of it was true? You just made all
of that shit up to what, impress me? This conversation is over!”
Disappointed and furious, I can only shake my head, remind myself
that I am a gentleman and walk away at this point. “Take care,
Zoie.”
I start walking to my Hummer as she runs up
from behind, grabbing my arm. “Donovan please, I didn’t really make
it up. Well, I did, but other than going to school for Forensics,
the rest was all me. Alright…and the picture. Please, just give me
a chance.”
Fuck, and here come the water works. I
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