“I’m a cage fighter” Blind date one
Sara has been sucking up to me ever since the “ketchup” incidence as we have playfully dubbed it. I have not heard from Rich since our first and apparently last date and I am really ok with that. He was definitely nice eye candy but we obviously didn’t click. Sara has used every kind of excuse she can think of to get me back out there. “You know that if you just sit at home every weekend you are going to turn into the crazy cat lady next door.”
I laugh because I am allergic to cats and she knows this. “They are going to bring back that card game Old Maid and they are going to put your picture on all the cards.” This makes me smile a bit. She knows I am not mad at her but it is fun to make her think I am. I have gotten a Grande caramel latte out of the deal every day for the last two weeks so we are almost even. Now she is trying to convince me to go to dinner with her and her boyfriend.
“Please come to dinner with Tom and I. All work and no play makes Annie a very cranky girl. You have to get out of the apartment I think you are growing cobwebs on your girl parts. We will buy your dinner!” I give her my best eye roll and smirk at her. “Really Sara?” I start laughing again. “If I go will you stop bugging me?” She squeals her answer by jumping on me causing us to fall onto the couch. “I will let Tom and John know we will meet them there.” Whoa. “Wait a second. Who is John? Are you trying to set me up again?!” She gives me this Mona Lisa smile and shakes her head. “No silly. He is a good friend of Tom’s and wants to hang out. I promise it’s not a date. So go get ready! I’m starving Marvin.”
I sigh. Sara has a big heart and just wants to see me happy and it is the only reason I even say yes. And of course she will bug me until I give in so really I have no choice. I throw my curly dark brown hair into a pony tail and check my reflection in the mirror. My hazel eyes are greener today so I don’t bother with any eye makeup. Au Naturel.
When we arrive at the Beachside Bar and Grill I can see Tom at the bar and this tall guy standing next to him. He has on a black t-shirt and white shorts with a black ball cap. Nice legs! From a distance he looks pretty cute but it doesn’t matter because it is not a date. Sara runs and leaps into Tom’s arms and they lock lips for an uncomfortable amount of time while I am standing here next to John.
“Um, hi. I’m Annie forgive our friends here they seem to have forgotten their manners.” I stick my hand out and he shakes it firmly twice and releases my hand quickly. “I’m John.” He has a bit of a country accent that throws me off a little because he doesn’t look like a country boy. He kinds of nods his head at me and I see his hat has UFC on the front. He has very blue eyes and tuffs of light brown hair sticking out from under his hat. His smile is sweet and he seems almost shy. “So what does UFC stand for?” Tom takes this moment to unlock lips with Sara to answer for John. “Ultimate Fighting Champion Annie how do you not know this. He kicks peoples asses for a living!” John seems to blush at this but doesn’t really say anything.
We order our food and I keep catching him look at me but he won’t say anything. So it is up to me to make conversation or this is going to be a long night. “So John, how long how you been an ultimate fighter?” He smiles and says, “Do you know anything about UFC?” I shake my head no and he decides that it is his duty to educate me. “I use mixed marital arts; it’s a full combat sport you know. I have been in about 2 years now and so far I have broken my hand, fractured my foot twice, had two concussions and sprained three fingers.”
I think this is the most he has talked the whole night and he seems almost proud of his injuries. He talks for almost an hour straight without interruption and I am starting to zone out a little bit. Sara and Tom are still sucking face and feeding each other food so they are no help to me. I see a couple of cute guys at the end of the bar and one of them gives me a smile. There may be hope yet when I hear my name. “Annie? Did you hear what I said?” I smile at John and say, “no I didn’t get that last part, sorry. What did you say?”
“I said I am a cage fighter which is like the best of the bad ass things a UFC fighter can be because I use my grappling and striking skills to take down my competition.” He actually sits up straighter when he says this. Skills? Did he just say cage fighter and skills in the same sentence? Holy hell I feel like I am having a conversation with Kip from Napoleon Dynamite. “Wow John that all seems really interesting. Can you excuse me for a minute? Sara?” I give her the look of death and she jumps up and follows me to the bar. “I need to get out of here because John’s ego is getting so big he is blocking out the sun!” Sara smiles at me. “Ok, ok but just so you know it wasn’t a set up I swear.” Somehow I find this hard to believe but I let it go.
We get back to the table and the guys are paying the bill. “John it was nice meeting you good luck with the cage thing. Sara I will meet you at the car.” I walk away and I am almost at the car when I hear my name. I turn and it is John. “Do you think that I can you call you sometime? I really had a good time with you tonight.” Was he not at the same table as me? “Oh, um sure.” I give him my number and he gives me a big hug and walks away smiling. Well it looks like I have just agreed to a second blind date that I sure hope goes better than this unofficial first one has gone. Looks like I am getting free coffee for a few more weeks.
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