Swipe Right

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"You need to get back out there Carrie." my best friend Mandy says. "I know but it's not that easy." I tell her. "Yes. It is." she tells me. I look down at my the phone in my hands and she says "Give me your phone." I hand her my phone and when she hands it back she says "We're making you a profile on this dating app. It's called Stupid Cupid." she tells me. "Online dating? Oh no." I tell her. "Oh yes." she tells me and starts creating my profile. I look at what she's typing and she's actually being fair with her description of me. "Curvy Southern Belle?" I ask. "That's your user name. That's what people will see when they see your profile." she tells me. "Fine. But you'll see. No one will respond." I tell her. "This app, you can message back and forth on it without giving out your phone number until you're ready." she tells me. "Yeah. Okay. I guess that would be okay." I tell her. "Just look at your potential matches. Just swipe left on the ones you don't like and swipe right one the ones you do. When someone swipes right on you, you will get a notification and if you swipe right on each other, then it allows you to message but only if you both swipe right." she tells me. "So it keeps the crazy at bay." I tell her. Laughing, she says "Something like that."

After Mandy leaves, I look around on the site and see a couple that I swiped right on but a majority of them I swiped left on. After a while, I put the phone down and head to bed for work the next morning. Putting the phone on my charger, I don't give the app any more thought. I lay down and drift off to sleep thinking that this app is a waste of time.

The next morning, I get up and head to work and Mandy walks over. "Did you look around last night?" she asks. "For a bit. Only found a couple worth swiping right on." I tell her. "Something will work out." she tells me. About lunch time, my phone chimes. She sees me pick up my phone and look at it confused. She walks over and sees what I'm looking at and smiles. "Someone matched you." she tells me. "That means I can message them right?" I ask. "Yeah. But it looks like they beat you to it." she says.

SC: Good afternoon. How are you?

C: Good. You?

SC: Good. I saw your profile and thought I would say hola.

C: Well, hello to you too. What's your name?

SC: Michael. You?

C: Carrie.

M: Nice to meet you then, Carrie.

C: You too Michael. Tell me a little about you.

M: Thirty-Eight years old. Work at a scrapyard. Ride a Harley. Been at my job for about ten years.

C: Nice. I'm Thirty-five. Recently single and my best friend talked me into joining this app. Work for a construction company as an administrative assistant. Been here about three years.

M: Are you from here? I was raised here.

C: From Georgia actually.

M: Southern Belle?

C: That's me.

M: Well, I better get back to work. Can I text you tonight?

C: That's fine. Nice talking to you.

I look at my phone and smile. That was nice. Mandy looks at me and I let her see the messages. "See, not so bad so far." she tells me. She sees me look back at my phone and says "Just take your time and stay open. You deserve this." she tells me. I take a deep breath and nod before getting back to work.

Sitting at home that night, my phone dings with a notification from the app. Outlaw Man sent you a dm. It says. I open the app and look at the message.

M: How was your day?

C: It was good. Busy but good. Yours?

M: Good. Got a lot done but it was good. What are you doing right now?

C: Sitting here with a bottle of wine, listening to some music.

M: What are you listening to?

C: Etta James. She's was my favorite.

M: I can dig that. My mom used to listen to her.

C: I love listening to her. At Last is my favorite song.

M: Mine too. Her voice is so smooth.

C: I agree. So, tell me a little more about you...Outlaw Man.

M: Lol. Not a whole lot to me.

C: What are you looking for?

M: I'm tired of being single. I want someone to settle down with and build a life with. You?

C: Someone to be with. Someone that will be honest with me and loyal to me.

M: Nothing wrong with that. How's the search going so far?

C: You're the first one I've spoken to.

M: Lucky me.

We go on talking a little more before I tell him I need to get to bed for work the next morning. He asks if he can text me again and I tell him that it's fine. Maybe this won't be so bad.