Finding My Own

1. In The Beginning

I had never been a fan of online dating. It came as something strange to me, though my parents had met online. As did my eldest sister and her husband and my younger brother and his fiancée. I couldn't fathom the idea of even forming a romantic relationship with someone I hadn't met in real life. I know the more I talk to them, the more we'll fall in love, but...I've never let myself become that friendly with anyone before.

I had another sister who didn't care much for marriage or dating. She was currently traveling the world and making ends meet wherever she happened to be. I envied her the most. Getting married to someone who was good enough to be with me now rested on my shoulders. That sort of made me the unofficial middle child. As you can imagine, there were certain things I could no longer do. Such as giving my sister an odd look if she dared to mention how pathetic my lack of a love life was. I never questioned why she chose to listen to our parents, so why does that give her the right to question me?

By the time I'd graduated high school, I knew I had to change this little "tradition" my family had. I wasn't going to follow in my sister's footsteps and leave, but I also wasn't going to be like everyone else and marry the first person I met on an app. Something had to change. I needed a reason to keep myself away from the dating apps. The longer I kept to myself, the more tempting it would become to download one. I prided myself in the restraint I had up until now.

"Thank you, ma'am. Same time next week?"

"Of course. What do you need to finish?"

"Just the tiling in the master bathroom. I'll have someone come by to check for termites. I suggest you get a protection plan against that."

"I'll look into that. You can expect your remaining payment as soon as you finish the tiling."

He nodded at me and went on his way. I closed the front door and leaned against it with a heavy sigh. Why does every married guy have to be so hot? I thought I was gonna die if he stayed any longer. Stacey always tries to get me to sleep with every guy I meet, but I'm not like her. I want the men I meet to know that I plan to stay a virgin until I find my Mr. Right. As cliche as it sounds, I want to give up everything to the man who promises me everything in return.

I moved to the kitchen to finish the lunch I had been preparing for Stacey and I. She was never one to spend money on food she could get for free. Of course, I thought she was just being cheap, but in this city, you're basically bargaining your life to survive. I come from a good family, but I almost went broke before reaching out to my parents about my living situation here. They hadn't been too happy about it, but at least I wasn't cutting them off completely like LeAnn had done.

"Girl, that man is stunning." Stacey leaned against the doorframe. "I almost asked him if he wanted to go out for drinks."

"Of course, you did. What took you so long?" I asked.

"Mom. I swear she acts like Dad doesn't exist sometimes."

"That's what happens when your parents are mortal enemies. Why are they still married?"

"Daniel. They don't want him to grow up with divorced parents. Something about it being unfair since Jack and I don't care."

"Oh."

"Yup. What'd you make this time?"

"Philly Cheesesteak quesadillas." I set her drink down on the island. "Sebastian wanted some, but I'm not trying to get in trouble with his wife."

"Girly, you should have given him some. I'm sure his wife would understand. You have to feed your workers or you're basically working them to death."

"He had lunch with him."