That evening, my best friend and coworker, Lola, came to eat dinner with me. She had said she didn't want me to be alone my first night at the house.
We were sitting at my dining room table, a beautiful mahogany wood set. We were just chit chatting and catching up on each others lives the past few weeks when she started throwing questions at me.
"So," she said, "Are you ready for Summer to end? New seniors coming your way," at this she chuckled.
"Yeah, I mean, I guess, it'll just be another year of me figuring out my teaching, and the kids figuring out the books I'm giving them," at this I chuckled.
"I feel you girl, the freshmen aren't too excited about math either," we both laughed.
She had broken the ice, and now she was going to ask a serious question. She drew in a big breath and said it so quickly I almost missed it, "So, when are you getting back into the dating scene?"
She asked that question cautioisly, as if to not upset me, because she knew all of the terrible atrocities from my previous relationship.
I had been in a relationship with Toni William, a successful business man who worked for a huge company in New York. Among other things, Toni was abusive, mentally and physically. He often left bruises, on my back and my pride. So when I went through his phone one night while he was showering and discovered he was happily married with two small children, I'd had enough. I cut off all ties with him, but not before telling his wife about what a horrible person he is. They are currently filing for a divorce and are amis a custody battle, and Mr. William is beating nothing but his own genitals (and maybe his secretary).
"Well," I spoke, gathering myself from my flashback, "Toni and I only broke up about two months ago"
"Yeah, exactly. The bruises have healed, it's time you get back out there. Find someone who loves you, only you, and devotes all of their positive attention on you," she ranted
"Okay," I said suspiciously, "what're you getting at?"
"Are you ready?" She asked excitedly
"Maybe," I said cautiously
"I," she said, prideful, "have set up a date for you,"
My face sunk "Really? Lola. Whenever I'm ready for dating, I can put myself out there. I don't need you to do it for me"
"Hear me out, okay?"
"Fine."
She started describing this guy, Ethan, an accountant whose wife passed away. How she's known him since third grade. About how he's a pretty decent man.
"Wait," I interjected, "you set me up on a date with a man whom I don't know, alone" I was fuming.
"Oh, no. Honey, I'm not that thoughtless. Rickson and I are going too. Like a double date," the Rickson in question is Lola's husband, he's an OK guy, he's just very boring and distant.
"Fine. When is it?" I asked
"Two weeks from today," she sqeauled, covering me in hugs, "I'll pick you up,"
I couldn't help but grin at Lola, her short brown hair shaking excitedly. Even though I was upset with her for doing this, I had to admit to myself it was time to move on.
"Ooh." She squealed, "I almost forgot!" She squealed again and pulled a black shoebox from her oversized handbag," your housewarming gift."
"Shoes?" I asked skeptically
"Well duh," she said, and before I even had time to open the box, "oh look at the time, Rickson's probably all alone at home. I've got to go. Bye, love you!"
She hugged me and left the house, her black Mercedes pulling out of the driveway with her.
I opened the shoebox, they were just plain black stilettos, but of course, being Lola, there was something else. A small envelope labeled Just in Case in her handwriting was at the bottom of the box. I opened it and sure enough there was a single, unopened condom. Typical Lola.
