I looked back at his face, which was flawless except for a tiny scar above his right eyebrow. I nodded. “Sure.” I looked around trying to gather my sense of direction. “Um, there is a diner down that way,” I pointed to the left, “or a bakery a couple blocks that way.” I pointed to the right and watched as his head turned in both direction as he considered the options.

“A bakery sounds less skeezy,” he said.

I nodded my agreement. I’d probably agree to anything he said. He was gorgeous and my disappointed heart would take whatever he would give me.

“It’ll sound more romantic when we tell our grandkids,” he said.

I laughed softly, trying to calm my foolish heart, which thought that Nate might be the one. “Wow. We’re having grandkids together already?”

“A guy can dream.” He winked at me and then turned around, guitar still in hand, and nodded in the direction of the bakery. “Come on, I really want a cupcake now and if the bakery closes before we get there I might just cry.”

It had been a month or so of dating Nate and there were no hiccups in sight. We spent our time together singing and playing guitar. We attended open mic nights together, and we made out a lot. I explained my past relationships, if you could call them that, and he knew I was nowhere near ready to jump on his saddle and ride. He said he respected that and that we could go as slow as I wanted.

After months of retelling my dates to Kent, I realized it was time for them to meet. I wanted to know if Kent’s gut feeling about Nate was the same as mine. I wanted approval from my best friend and the only way to get it was for them to spend time together. Kent hadn’t liked Will the Cowboy, and he had been spot on about him.

I arranged for them to meet us at the bowling alley. It wasn't really Jen's taste, but I had to remind her that I was on a very tight budget. Nate and I were already seated next to each other on the plastic chairs facing the lanes, our dorky shoes on when Kent and Jen walked in. Nate’s chocolate brown eyes were accentuated by the maroon and black plaid button down shirt he was wearing.

Tonight was cosmic bowl. Crazy black lights, cheap beers, and ultra loud pop music surrounded us as we sat together, reserving our lane.

“Oh, there they are!”

I waved to get Jen’s attention and watched as she approached us. Kent let his eyes move around the bowling alley slowly, I knew he was uncomfortable in loud, crowded public places but he’d just have to get over it.