Sophie stood in front of her mirror, examining herself. She wore a sleek navy-blue dress that hugged her figure just right, paired with heels she hadn't worn in ages. Her makeup was subtle yet elegant, and her hair was pinned up in a style that screamed sophistication.
"I look like someone who has her life together," Sophie muttered to herself, twirling once.
Mia had successfully convinced her to go on her first blind date, courtesy of the LoveMatch app. The date was with a man named Ryan, whose profile claimed he was a "successful entrepreneur with a passion for yoga and poetry."
"What could go wrong?" she mused sarcastically as she grabbed her purse.
---
The First Blind Date: Mr. Cringe Poetry
Sophie arrived at a quaint café, the kind with overpriced coffee and walls lined with books. She spotted Ryan immediately—tall, lanky, and wearing a fedora.
"Hi, Sophie!" Ryan greeted her with an exaggerated bow. "Or should I say, the goddess who graces my sight tonight?"
Sophie blinked. "Uh...hi."
They sat down, and Ryan wasted no time launching into his self-written poetry.
"Listen to this," he said, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper.
He cleared his throat dramatically. "Her eyes, twin orbs of celestial fire, her smile, a beacon of eternal desire…"
Sophie's lips twitched as she fought back laughter. "That's...intense."
Ryan beamed. "I wrote it for you. Inspired by your profile picture."
Sophie realized this was going to be a long night.
---
The Second Blind Date: Mr. Mama's Boy
Determined not to let one bad date discourage her, Sophie agreed to another. This time, it was with Greg, who described himself as "family-oriented and down-to-earth."
At the restaurant, Greg showed up with a surprise guest: his mother.
"This is my mom, Doris," Greg said proudly.
Doris eyed Sophie critically. "So, you're Sophie. What are your intentions with my son?"
Sophie blinked, unsure if she was on a date or a job interview.
Greg spent most of the evening talking about how his mom made the best lasagna and how no woman could ever compare to her.
By the end of the night, Sophie was convinced Greg's true soulmate was sitting right next to him.
---
The Third Blind Date: Mr. Oversharer
By now, Sophie was regretting ever downloading the app. But Mia convinced her to give it one last shot. Enter Mark, a "financial analyst with a great sense of humor."
The date started off promising—Mark was handsome, charming, and had a great laugh. But then he started oversharing.
"So, last year, I went through this horrible breakup," he said between bites of steak. "She cheated on me with my best friend. And then my dog died. Oh, and I've been seeing a therapist about my trust issues."
Sophie nodded politely, unsure how to respond.
"And then there was this time I accidentally set my kitchen on fire," Mark continued.
By dessert, Sophie was convinced she had stumbled into a therapy session rather than a date.
---
Ethan's Amusement
After each disastrous date, Sophie would call Ethan to vent. He found her stories both hilarious and oddly satisfying.
"So, let me get this straight," Ethan said one evening as they sat in his living room. "The guy brought his mom to the date?"
Sophie groaned, throwing a pillow at him. "Don't laugh! It was traumatizing."
Ethan laughed harder. "I mean, it's kind of karma, isn't it? You used to tease me about my blind dates, and now look at you."
Sophie narrowed her eyes. "Don't make me throw another pillow."
He smirked, holding up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. But seriously, maybe blind dating isn't for you."
"Or for anyone," Sophie muttered.
---
A Surprise Revelation
Despite her misadventures, Sophie couldn't deny that a small part of her enjoyed dressing up and putting herself out there. It felt empowering, even if the dates themselves were disasters.
One evening, as she was preparing for yet another date, Ethan stopped by unannounced.
"You're going out again?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Sophie said defensively. "Why does everyone act like I'm committing a crime by dating?"
Ethan shrugged. "Just curious. Who's the lucky guy tonight?"
"His name is Sam," Sophie said, slipping on her heels. "He's a dentist."
Ethan chuckled. "Let me guess—he's going to talk about root canals all night."
Sophie rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "We'll see."
As she headed out the door, Ethan called after her. "Good luck! Don't let him try to sell you toothpaste!"