Descent (Black Heart Romance presents Heaven & Hell)

“An excellent mentality in most cases, but honestly, I’m fine hanging out with Marie and my own
company for right now.”
“I feel like you’re afraid to get back out there.”
“I am definitely not afraid to get back out there,” I assure her. “Fatigued, maybe, but not afraid.”
Nodding with remarkable solemnity for an almost-drunk girl, she says, “I get that. I do. Dating
can be exhausting when you’re actually trying to find someone to settle down with. But I know you,
babe. You’re not meant to spend your days with Marie. She’s a lovely cat, sure, but you are a
relationship girl. You’re the marrying kind. You are not a future cat lady spinster. You’re just not.”
Sighing, I grab my drink and take a slow sip. “No, that’s not how I see my life going, but
honestly, I’d rather be a cat lady spinster than date someone who makes me feel…” I pause, trying to
encapsulate the feelings I’ve been left with after every failed relationship. Finally, I come up with,
“unfulfilled.”
“I don’t want that for you, either,” she says. “But you won’t feel that way with the right guy. I
don’t feel that way with Tyler, and I’m not the marrying kind. If I can find that, you sure as hell can.”
I shrug. “Maybe someday. It’s just not my turn yet, and I’m fine with that.”
Charity shakes her head. “It will never be your turn if you never go out with anybody. Let me set
you up. I know the guys I pick for you aren’t usually your first choice, but sometimes the most perfect
person for you is someone you never thought to consider.”
I cannot stomach the idea of going out with another of Charity’s picks. I also seldom win
arguments with my professional lawyer bestie, so rather than engage, I lean forward and look down
the bar. Surely shiny new drinks will distract her.
“And I know, I shouldn’t try to run your life for you,” she says, even though I haven’t said a
word. “I promise to get better about that as long as you get better about stepping outside your comfort
zone and taking chances from time to time. It can lead you somewhere really unexpected, but really
good. Look at me. Party girl extraordinaire. I took a chance and stepped outside my comfort zone with
Tyler, and now we’re getting married tomorrow. Me. Married. Who ever thought you would be the
maid of honor at my wedding before I got to be yours?”
It’s true, between the two of us, I am the more romantic. I’m the one who actually hoped to find
someone to share my life with, while Charity was more about just having fun. No one expected her to
get married anytime soon, but then Tyler came along and changed the game.
I’m happy for them, and I would like to find that special someone for myself, but I’m so sick of
dating. It’s exhausting chasing dead-end after dead-end, trying again and again to find someone to
connect with and being disappointed every damn time.
After my last hollow relationship, I’m content to be single for a while. I need to recharge, take a
little time to myself before I’ll have the energy to dive back into the dating pool again.
My phone buzzes. As if the universe is eavesdropping on our conversation and wants to