Rushing towards Love

Chapter 1 Nika really didn’t want to be here. But here she was, feeling claustrophobic amongst a crowd of single men and women all eyeing each other like they were either meat or butchers in a BBQ competition.   Was she juicy enough?  Probably, after all she had curves for days, probably too many curves but it had been a long journey to loving herself and she didn’t entertain such thoughts anymore.   Suddenly she saw Jessie.  Her face lit up and unbeknownst to her, she glowed with a beauty that was both alluring and comforting.  She was the Veronica to Jessie’s Betty.  Jessie was slim, athletic and wholesome.  Whereas she was mysterious, exotic and perhaps a tad unwelcoming.   "Hey Jessie!” she raised her hand “Over here!”  Several faces, men and women turned to look at her and she struggled to not feel overwhelmed with the sudden attention.   Jessie rushed up talking a mile a minute as she usually did.   “You wouldn’t believe the traffic! I thought I was going to be late which would have worked in my favour since I think I’m going to puke!  Do I look ok? Maybe I should go home and change.”  “Don’t you dare!  You wanted to try this speed-dating thing, it was YOUR idea.  If I’m here, you are here and you look beautiful. I think I’m the one that doesn’t fit in here.” “Oh you!  You will be fine, once you have a glass of wine and settle in for the ride, you are solid, you know that. It’s my turn to buy isn’t it?  White or red?” "I saw some people talking about the wine, it’s sketchy at best, go for the rosè.” “Seriously? Sweet?  You know me, I like it dark and bitter.”   “The red is corked I think. Just awful from the faces I’m seeing and the glasses being tipped or left off.”  “Rosè it is. I’ll be right back, when does it start?” “They gave the 15 minute warning just before you arrived.”   “Oh my god, and we still need to compare notes!” She watched Jessie run over to the bartender to give her order while she tugged off her jacket.  ? felt something brush against her as she heard a deep “Sorry” from behind.  She turned to look and apologize herself but the stranger was gone.  She hoped she would run into him at the tables, she liked the deepness of his voice.  God why did she let Jessie talk her into these things?  Jessie and her were BFF’s, the best of best friends.  They both worked as accountants for a major accountancy firm, Jessie specializing in corporate tax returns while she focused on more forensic accounting.  She liked the challenge of finding things and solving puzzles.  When they met on her first day of work, both her and Jessie were wearing the same sweater, instead of taking that as a sign of contention, they bonded immediately over fashion, shoes, being single ladies and of course dreaded dating.  “Rosè it is! I asked the bartender and he pretty much agreed with you, he said the white was better than the red, but not much better, it had a metallic aftertaste.”  Jessie shoved a glass in her hand.  “So what do you think?”   "Well lots of interesting men and women here. It takes all kinds I suppose, there’s millennials, older people, I think I spotted a goth or two, some fitness freaks, some tattooed rebels, perhaps a circus performer and very definitely some librarians and cat ladies.”  Jessie laughed.  “Well better them than us! Anything catch your eye?  No, but oddly enough, something caught my ears.  Someone pushed past me and apologized and I really liked what I heard. Nice deep voice.  “Are we looking for men or ladies tonight?”  Jessie was one of the few people that knew I was bisexual.  “When I filled out my card, I did mention my orientation, so we will see what I get.  Apparently, they’ve assigned us all to a calendar of tables based on our applications and when we’re to be at those tables.  So maybe Table 17 at 9:45 will be my lucky star.”   Just as we both laughed a woman with a clipboard approached Jessie.   "Jessie Casperden?"  “Yes Ma’am!” “Here’s your itinerary.  Please be at those tables at those times.  We will ring a bell and yell switch so you will know to change tables.”  Shifting her attention to me, “You know to keep an eye on Troy for those shift changes?”  “Yes Ma’am.”  I responded.   She winked and as she turned away, “Have a great time ladies.”  “They’ve really thought of everything, haven’t they?” Jessie leaned in and said to me. “Yes, and now I can choose who I want to out myself to, and who I don’t.”  “To the golden unicorn!”  Jessie laughed.