I order a plain espresso martini, while Kiara gets spiced apple fizz and Val orders her pumpkin spice cocktail. After we get our drinks, I look around. In this crowded, noisy space, it finally hits me. This is my first time at a bar as a single woman in seven years. I fidget in my seat, feeling a bit awkward. Hopefully it’s not too obvious.

I look around. All the women around us are gathered in groups or pairs, like we are. And the last thing I want to do is barge in on a date or a friend gathering. I glance at the bar to see if there are any loners and spot a man who is an absolute giant. He has to be at least six foot five. As far as I can tell, he’s sitting by himself at the bar as he sips on his old-fashioned. Since I’m five three and don’t want to constantly look like a hobbit next to him, his height is automatically a deal-breaker for me for anything serious.

But he’s good-looking enough for me to consider something casual.

“Do you see someone you like?” Kiara asks, her voice hushed with excitement.

“Yup.” I down my drink and immediately regret it when I feel the burn of the alcohol going down my throat. With a wince, I say, “Wish me luck.”

“Godspeed,” Val replies, making Kiara and me laugh.

Before I lose my resolve, I let out a quiet breath and head toward the giant.

“Hi,” I say, extending a hand. “I’m Gemma. Pleasure to meet you.”

The man raises his eyebrows, and it only then occurs to me that my greeting may have been too professional for a casual bar setting. I could not have made it any more obvious that this is my first night out as a single woman since college.

Fortunately, the man eventually says, “Hey.” He takes my hand, which looks ridiculously tiny in his, and gently shakes it. “Ian. Nice to meet you.”

For a split second, I’m afraid he’s going to just go back to his drink, but Ian slowly scoots over to make room for me. He looks miserably cramped. This place wasn’t designed for a person his size.

I sit down on the stool next to him.

“How are you?” I ask, jumping right into it. I hate small talk, but I hate awkward silences even more. “Do you work around here? How was your day?”

“Yeah,” he replies with a shrug. “I work in finance, so, nothing too exciting. But my day’s much better now that you’re here with me.”

He says the last part with a cheeky grin. After seven years of being in a relationship with the same person, a pickup line from a stranger is jarring. Laughable, even. But it isn’t entirely unpleasant.