My sole consolation is knowing she’ll be stuck answering stupid questions for the next thirty minutes, while I’ll be outside enjoying a pleasant walk back to the office in the midday sun.

Seven

Vivian

After that horrible man leaves, I introduce myself to the receptionist, Teresa, who hands me a questionnaire to fill out. I take the rigid folder from her, excited. Surveys are a quirk of mine. I love answering questions. I’ve probably answered all the personality quizzes on Facebook.

From discovering what Disney princess I am: Belle. To what job I should do: Designer. That was a funny one; I’m the least artistic person I know. To what Friends character I am: Rachel, of course. To who my TV boyfriend should be: Jim Halpert from The Office. Mmm, I wasn’t convinced about that one. I would’ve preferred to get Jon Hamm from Mad Men… which is probably why I’m sitting in a dating agency at age thirty-four. Because I have terrible taste in men, and only go for the bad boys who like to have their fun and then leave me alone with a daughter to raise. But I digress.

I sit in one of the blue leather chairs of the reception area and start working on the agency quiz—err, questionnaire.

5. What is your current relationship status?

♡ Never married

♡ Divorced

♡ Separated

♡ Widowed

Oh, how sweet that they picked hearts instead of those boring square boxes for their multiple-choice answers! They’re so cute. Still, no matter how nice the lettering, the question stings. I mark “never married” while my chest squeezes with unwanted memories of my nineteen-year-old self. Of the day I went to tell Tegan’s father I was pregnant, thinking he’d offer right away to marry me and to build a family together. Guess how that one turned out.

Whatever. Water under the bridge.

I shake the past away and concentrate on the present—the future. I’m being insanely optimistic about joining Leslie’s agency, but I have a good feeling about this. Love is waiting for me. If my best friend found her future husband this way, why shouldn’t I?

I’m here for the right reasons.

Contrary to Shrek, the thought pops into my head. I’m sure the only reason he was here today is because he’s obsessed with getting my corner office. Soppy romantic? Don’t make me laugh. Whatever poor woman he gets paired with will hopefully call his bluff right away like I did. And besides, good things come to the honest. I’m definitely going to find a match before he does.

Are you? the pessimist in me asks. New York is saturated with single gals looking for an eligible bachelor. And Lucas is single, has a good job, most certainly doesn’t live with his parents… The city is full of great-unmarried women but lacking in great-unmarried men.