PARTICULAR TASTE

CHAPTER ONE - THE BET

Camila walked into her house and threw herself on the sofa. Why had she even gone on that date? She had ignored all the rumours about the young actor, he had convinced her he was sweet and kind, but all she had discovered was that he was a better actor than his IMDB reviews had led her to believe. In the middle of a popular-with-celebrities LA eatery, his hands had been very active under the table in their booth and she had shot out of there mumbling a story about the urgent reaction lactose sometimes had on her and got an Uber right home. Luckily there didn't appear to be any paparazzi around but she was positive the date would feature on Deuxmoi.  She wished her Mom was here, but she had gone back to Miami and wasn't returning for a couple of weeks. She picked up her phone and opened her messages. No, a phone call was needed. She had to vent, and she needed a man's perspective on this disaster. She pressed Shawn's number.

"Hey," he answered sleepily. Shit, she always forgot Toronto was three hours ahead of LA.

"Did I wake you?" It must be two am there.

"Yes," he chuckled. "But it's OK. I gather since it's eleven pm and you're calling me it didn't go well with the beach boy?" he was referring to the television show her dud date was famous for.

"Ugh, you were right, I should have listened. He was a jerk."

"I'm sorry," he said. "But you should have learned something after that basketballer."

"Well you're tall, and I don't mind hanging out with you, so I didn't think it would matter."

"Camila, he was almost two feet taller than you."

"I couldn't even see his face and he couldn't hear me when I spoke. We were in different fricken time zones."

They both laughed.

"You have shit taste in men, admit it."
"Says the man who has never had a second date," she said drily. "Where do you want to start, at the girl who thought Canada was in Europe, or the one whose acrylic nail got stuck in your..."

"OK, you've made your point! We both have bad judgement."

"You really have no idea what to look for in a woman."

"Maybe I should let you pick my dates," he said with a laugh.

"I bet I would be better at it," she said. "I could find you the perfect woman."

"You don't think I could find you the perfect man?"

She laughed. "No, I don't!"

"OK, let's actually make that bet." He said.

"Are you serious?" she asked.

"Absolutely!"

"OK, but we need to put a time limit on it," Camila said. "Weeks or months?"

"What are we talking here, how do we measure success?" he asked.

"OK, how about, three months, and you have to be engaged."

"Whoa, come on!" Shawn protested.

"I think I can do it."

"Alright, you're on. Three months, but serious, not engaged. And if I win. What is at stake here?"

"Other than our romantic happiness?"

"Yeah, I mean what does the winner get?"

"Five thousand dollars to the charity of their choice," Shawn said.

"OK," Camila agreed. "And what if neither of us win? What if in three months neither of us are serious about someone?"

Shawn was quiet as if he was thinking.