The Three Date Minimum

Part 1

She was the best boss ever, to be sure. Her heart was bigger than all five boroughs of New York, and every day she made strides to make sure that those who truly needed her help received it. Everything you knew and loved about non-profits you learned from her.

Nakia gave you a warm smile. "I am only here for the afternoon. I just wanted to remind you of our fundraising goals this month."

"Oh, right." Your brows furrowed as you reached for a post-it note on your monitor, waving it so she could see. "Got them right here, Boss."

"Good. I don't want anyone to be able to say we didn't do our part, Y/N."

"Of course."

She gave a nod of greeting toward Wanda. "I'll be back in a week or so. I have an important meeting with a potential resource in Wakanda. In the meantime I've left Rachel in charge of the day-to-day operations. Have you both seen her ring?"

The smug look Wanda gave you just then haunted your thoughts all afternoon.

—-

When you got home from work that evening, you immediately changed into some comfy pajamas, poured yourself some wine, turned on the TV, and caught up with your newest favorite TV husband, Jake Peralta.

The peaceful joy of binge-watching a great show in an empty apartment didn't last very long, though. A loud groan sounded from the kitchenette behind you. You didn't even bother to glance back at your roommate of six months, Natasha.

"Not again, Y/N! It's a freakin' Friday night! You're young and you're sitting at home, again!"

"You wouldn't understand. Jake is wonderful and I love him."

"It's been four months, Y/N. Four months of this shit. You have to get back out there."

"Do I?" You turned your head to give her a look. "I don't remember there being a time limit. I don't remember relationships being a requirement for a happy life."

So maybe you hadn't always bitter about dating. It had been four months since your last major breakup, but there was no scandal involved. He didn't cheat, there was no one else...he just lost interest. You stopped being enough for him.

How utterly boring and sad, right?

After that, you pretty much lost interest in dating, too. It wasn't that you thought the dating pool was mediocre as you'd tried to convince yourself so often, including that very morning.

As hard as it was to admit, you just weren't ready for the inevitable end of the relationship. You weren't ready for someone to tell you that you weren't enough again.

You said that to yourself enough over the last four months.

None of that stopped your best friend and roommate Natasha from trying to get you to date again. Every weekend, she'd been encouraging you to go out and meet someone new, suggesting new dating trends or events she'd heard about.

"Yes, you do," she insisted, flopping down on the couch beside you. "Have you tried Tinder?"

"No."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Give me your phone."

You clutched it to your chest in alarm. "No! I don't want a hookup."

"It doesn't have to be a hookup, Y/N, you can actually meet nice guys on there!"

"Haven't you heard enough horror stories about Tinder? Absolutely not."

To put the final emphasis on your statement, you turned the volume up. The TV blared the Christmas episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine where they get stuck in the department store, one of your favorites.

Natasha still wouldn't take the hint. "Fine. Then come with me to this singles event happening in downtown Brooklyn tonight. It's speed-dating, how hilarious is that?"

That made you glance up again. "Now why on Earth would I want to do that?"

She shrugged a shoulder. "I just thought it would be a great time for you to see other humans for once. And these are only three-minute dates, so it's bound to be over before you try to sabotage it, right?"

You scoffed. "Your jokes could use some work."

Natasha reached over and stole the remote from your hand, pausing your show just as Gina gets captured. "Come on, Y/N. I'll pay for you to get in, I'll even leave you alone for two whole weeks about dating."

"Two weeks isn't a long enough time."

Torture.

That's what Nat was asking you to partake in. You hated small talk, and what a terrible way to be forced to talk to someone than at an event where they will definitely try to get their money's worth.

"Come on, Y/N! It's this new bar and everyone's talking about it. It's not even that far from here! I really want you to go with me."

Natasha's face was scrunched up and pleading and dammit, you hated when she got like this.

Okay, whatever.

"Fine," you sighed, leaning your head back against the cushions. "I will agree to a three date minimum. Three dates, and if there's no interest piqued, then I get to go back to watching my TV husband for an entire month with not one single peep from you. And you have to tell Wanda to lay off. Agreed?"

She looked satisfied, almost as smug as Wanda did earlier. "Agreed."

"Good."

Just as you headed to your room, about to close your door to change, Nat shouted, "Speed-dating counts as just one date though!"

Maybe you shut the door on her a little louder than necessary.

Ugh.