At the very least, if you’re coming on a dating show, at least watch its previous seasons to know what it’s about before signing up.
Instead, I smile. “Rhys, it’s fine. But I haveto say it was so much fun, I kind of want to go again and at the same time, I kind of don’t. Is that crazy?”
He sighs. “I don’t know how you did it but,” he then raises two thumbs up like I’m a little child getting over my fears. “Good job!”
Faking a chuckle, “What’s next then?”
“Should we get something to eat?” He asks.
I turn to Lois. “Do we have time for that?”
We definitely do, but I’m hoping she says no.
“Yep. Make it seem like both of you pulled this restaurant up on your phones.” She shows us the title of the place and it takes every power within me not to grimace.
I don’t like sushi.
“Sushi’s my favourite,” Rhys exclaims. “At least something’s going my way. Do you like sushi?”
Because he looks like he’s finally enjoying his time, I nod. “Lovesushi.”
There’s an array of sushi lined up on the table.Shouldn’t we eat native Swiss food instead?
It’s odd. I’m usually great at talking to people on my own. Especially when my sisters aren’t around, but right now… it’s weird. My brain is blank and not the good kind where you can breathe in peace. But the kind that I’m staring at the utensils and wondering what I should say to Rhys.
Do I talk about the weather? The mountains?
At least the food looks pretty. I take my phone out, swiping right to the camera app.
“Is that really necessary?” Rhys asks. He’s placing a napkin on his lap.
“Oh… um,” my cheeks heat. I lower the phone. “I guess not, sorry.”
I get it when people say they don’t like taking pictures of food or the place around them. Because there are people that don’t look at them again, but me? My photo album is a diary and I like to capture images of whatever I can. It’s not like I’ll come to Switzerland or have sushi again.
“Remember last year when we met atThe Palace?”
I pour myself a glass of water. “When your date bailed on you?”
He laughs and it's rich. Too smooth for me. “Yes, that very day. I’d been going on blind dates for over three months at that point.”
I give him a look, but he points a defended finger at me. “My sister was making me go. She said it was time to get married.”
“But then I saw you standing in line. You were in a grey pantsuit, your eyes squinted in a friendly smile as an old lady talked to you. I couldn’t help but keep my attention on you and then you sat at the table next to mine.”
I’m breaking out in cold sweat. Please tell me this conversation isn’t going where I think it’s going. If Rhys spent the year thinking of me and I haven’t spared a single thought about him, I’m going to feel immensely guilty.
“You looked like you had a date, that you were waiting for someone. And I thought that man must be lucky. Until you started ordering food for yourself. That’s when I took my chance to talk to you. Could you tell I flirted?”
I chew the inside of my cheek. The end of his monologue is anti-climactic. “You weren’t very slick,” I shake my head. “But I couldn’t tell. You were a gentleman. Nice. You made conversation with me until the end and then we shared a lava cake. It was a good day.”
But not memorable because I didn’t care much. Look, Rhys isattractive. More than that, he’s a kind, honest, desirable man. There’s hearts shaped as stars in his eyes, there’s a hopeless romantic hidden somewhere inside of him. If I was a nicer person—a better woman, I’d give him a chance. I’ve said love isn’t my priority, but if I felt more than platonic feelings towards Rhys, he would’ve already been mine.
“It’s crazy how we’re reuniting on this show though.”
Rhys uses his chopsticks to put a dab of wasabi on his sushi, then dips it in soy sauce.
I pull my lips inwards to stop myself from laughing, recalling the memory of Dean devouring a bowl of milk with soy sauce in it. I still can’t believe he ate it. I must’ve given him heartburn or a long visit to the bathroom.
