One Life with Him wouldn't Hurt

Really? Tinder?

"What about this one?" I showed my friend, Emma, my phone. We had both downloaded Tinder, mainly to make fun of the men on there. His name was Owen, and was basically the definition of my type. His profile said 5'10", not too tall, perfect to kiss so I wouldn't break my neck. His green eyes, his brown hair had a little bit of wave to it. It was just long enough to stick out under the cowboy hat he wore... oh, the hat. He was perfect. And he liked photography? It felt like the good Lord above put him there just for my delusions. 

"No," Emma's voice snapped me out of my fantasies. "Look at his bio, Marie, 'move to Wyoming with him.' You don't even want to move out of Tennessee. What makes you think you could move halfway across the country with some random guy? He probably lives out there and he'll murder you in a field."

I groaned and passive-aggressively sat my phone down on the table where we were studying. I folded my arms and pouted at the ground for a solid three seconds before glancing back over at my phone, attempting to bite back the smile that almost immediately formed on my face as I saw the picture of him sitting on the edge of a pool table. He was wearing a black felt cowboy hat, a black button-down shirt (the top two unbuttoned which is a guarantee to make me melt), jeans, boots... He was definitely someone I would go after. 

Olivia, my other friend in our group (the only one smart enough to not download Tinder) asked to see my phone. I slid it over to her. She spent the better part of two or three minutes judging his profile before shrugging and sliding it back to me. "Go for it. He's better than anyone you've had recently."

I bit down on the corners of my mouth to hide my smile. I swiped right and the screen lit up indicating we matched. I dropped my phone down on the table in excitement and covered my mouth to hide my childish giggles. Honestly, was I falling this hard for a boy I saw nine pictures of already? Idiot. 

I bounced my feet on the ground. I had promised my friends that I wouldn't reach out first to anyone. I was the prize, people had to work for me and such. That doesn't mean that every time my phone would buzz I checked to see if he had messaged. Sure, other guys had messaged me, sure, I was talking to a few others, but him? Oh, I could see a future. Maybe, possibly, one out in Wyoming... maybe he wanted a farm, or a ranch. Maybe he wanted to be more traditional... I could stay home with the kids, he could provide. I was more than okay with my degree looking pretty up on a wall of a small farm house beside pictures of our family... with a boy that don't know I even exist. Great. 

I sighed, putting down my phone. My date for that Saturday just got canceled. "Guys, I may break my 'no-reaching-out-first' rule."

It was met with an immediate "no." from both Emma, and Olivia. I pouted and continued to attempt to read out of my textbook. My phone lit up, 'Owen sent you a message!' Flashed on the screen. I giggled and picked up my phone. It was two emojis. The one where it's a person pointing at his cheek and another where it had a finger over its mouth in a shh-ing motion. I threw my phone on the table. "What am I supposed to do with this? What's that even mean?"

Emma immediately grabbed my phone and pretended to study the message. She gave it back to me. "No clue. Ignore him."

I sighed, but debated it. If he couldn't even come up with a good start for a conversation how was he going to be able to continue the relationship? He wouldn't. Not a good option. I sat there staring at it, running different responses back in my mind, settling to ignore him. That was a great waste of my mental space for two hours. 

I sat my phone down and tried to study more. I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against my book. His smile in my mind. Oh, he was so cute. I kept my head down and grabbed my phone, bringing it under the table to stare at his message again, thinking not so nice thoughts. I gave in. 

Marie: Heyy, lol

 The almost immediate reply threw me off... and had me giggling. 

Owen: My friend made me send that. My sincerest apologies. How are you

I rolled my eyes. As if.

Marie: I'm doing good. How are you? 

Naturally, asking Emma and Olivia if my responses worked. 

Owen: Pretty dandy. Last day of class was today. 

"Dandy?" Emma said through a snort. "He even talks like a fake cowboy."

My face flushed slightly. "Oh, hush. It's hot, just trust me."

"Marie, your type is so bad." I ignored her insult. 

Marie: That sounds so nice 

Owen: Well. I got exams so that's less than ideal

Marie: Aww, good luck with that tho!

My conversations skills killed me on the inside. I knew I could handle it in person, but text was killing me. The rest of the day went by without a message, which killed me on the inside. Did I do something? I know I didn't give that much to the conversation, but what if it was actually me? I looked back on the messages before I fell asleep... yeah. It was definitely my crappy conversation skills. 

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The next morning I checked my phone like any one nowadays. Two notifications left my heart beating harder than it should for someone who had just woken up two minutes ago. 'Owen liked your message!'  and 'Owen sent you a message!'  The stupid grin I had on my face must have been something to witness. 

Owen: I am so sorry I got sidetracked with a mini adventure I'm back now tho

Marie: It's all good! I was out by then so no need to apologize about it

Yeah, I know, being asleep by 11:43 p.m.? Who would have thought. In all fairness, he wasn't awake when I messaged back at 5:43 a.m. so we were even. 

Naturally, I updated my friends when I got to school. I had done my best to keep him out of my head until he messaged me just after 12

Owen: How's your day going

Marie: It's going good! Just at school atm. How're you?

As it did before, the immediate messaging back sent me over the moon. A man who tries to keep the conversation going and replies fast? Wife me up already. We continued to talk about school, he told me about how he's going to UT for aerospace engineering, which made my jaw drop. I told him how I was going to TCAT for cosmetology. Later that night he asked for my snap, I willingly gave it. 

Owen: Word

And that was the last time I messaged anyone on Tinder.