Alejandro (3 page)

“I met Michelle—”

“No. Sasha.”

“Sasha...We were Internet pen pals throughout high school. We didn’t meet face to face until we graduated.”

Veronica’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Weird, right? We met online in a Star Trek chat room. We were such nerds,” she laughed. “And we each had no idea that the other was a lesbian until two years into the friendship. She was my best friend. We’d talk on the phone for hours. Laugh with each other, run crying to each other. She truly understood me on a level that was scary sometimes. After graduation, I got my own car, so I took a road trip to Fresno to finally meet her. The rest was history.”

“Wow.”

 “After she passed away, I didn’t think I could ever be with someone else. Two years later, I met Michelle. I really was happy with Michelle. But I didn’t feel that joy I felt with Sasha. That magical spark.”  

Veronica’s heart went tender. “I can see it in your eyes when you talk about her. You had something so many people are struggling to find.”  

“Neither of us was perfect, especially not me, so it wasn’t as if we were more deserving of finding love. I always say that if it could happen to me, a husky lesbian from Carlsbad, it could happen to anyone,” she laughed.

“To joy.” Veronica grinned and held up her mug.

Ally smiled, held up a blueberry scone and tapped it against Veronica’s coffee mug. “To joy.”

***

That afternoon, her boss drove her back to the parking garage where she’d left her car. Once she was finally home, showered and casually dressed, Veronica realized that the rest of her Saturday was not going to be eventful. This day and the days ahead all looked like a vast uninhabited desert she would have to crawl across alone. Afraid to rest her mind, Veronica went to her computer in search of distractions.

Her email inbox was crowded with sales copy from her favorite department stores. “Retail therapy?” The thought of running into Quincy at the mall made her dismiss the idea. An advertisement on the right of the screen caught her eye as she emptied her junk mail. It was for that dating website she’d cased a couple nights ago. ‘The One may be One Click Away!’ it read, above some rotating pictures of smiling singles. Red rose petals decorated the edges of the vertical ad.

Veronica clicked on it without much hesitation
. If Ally had listened to all her fears and judgments, she would have never met Sasha.
In less than ten minutes, Veronica’s profile was complete, with the inclusion of some very cute pictures Quincy took of her, during the one ‘vacation’ they’d taken together to a nearby beach resort, wearing an orange halter-top with her long black hair in mermaid waves.

Username:
Queen_V

Age:
31

City:
Vista, San Diego, CA

Height:
5’ 11”

Ethnicity:
Black

Education:
Some college

Profession:
Paralegal

Intent:
Ready for Marriage

Religion:
Christian

Body type:
Curvy

Sign:
Taurus

About Me:

Hello people :) My name is Veronica. This is my first experience with a site like this and I feel awkward talking about myself, so bear with me. I’m a loving, respectful, educated woman looking for a man who is the same. I’m tired of little boys who play games and have no real plans or life goals. I need a man who knows what he wants and who isn’t still ‘playing the field’. I want a happy home and a big family with a happy husband. If you love cats, that’s a plus :P I speak a little Spanish and I appreciate Latin cultures. I appreciate culture in general, and I’d love to travel and learn more. A man who can cook will be my Superman because the stove is my kryptonite lol Send me a message is you’ve got what it takes and you want to know more ;)

Finally, Veronica clicked the ‘Create My Profile’ button. One second later, her palms were damp and her heart beat quicker. She turned the computer off, her feelings split between worry and excitement, and hid from her computer until late that night, at which time her curiosity became as stubborn as a hyperactive toddler at bedtime.

Dozens. There were at least thirty messages in her Plenty-of-People inbox! So many men had taken an interest in her profile in so little time. Veronica was stunned. Who knew she was such a babe?! “Hell, I should’ve signed up sooner for this confidence boost,” she said with a grin. “Alright. Let’s see what mama cat dragged in.”

Three

MrRomance:
Hello beautiful. I would love to be the man that treats you like his queen.

Queen_V:
Thank you :)

MrRomance:
I’d cook you dinner, massage you, rub your feet, clean the dishes, and clean your car for you gorgeous.

Queen_V:
Damn. No man has ever offered to clean my car lol. That’s impressive. You’d really do all that for me?

MrRomance:
Yeah, if it needs to get done. Whatever I need to do. As long as it’ll get me a kiss or something later, I’ll go above and beyond.

Queen_V:
You’d definitely deserve a kiss for that.

MrRomance:
You should let me take you out one night. I’ll show u a good time.

Queen_V:
I would appreciate that. So, your profile says you’re in Mission Valley. I live in Vista.

MrRomance:
Oh. Vista huh. Kind of far :/

Queen_V:
It’s a 30 minute drive. Is that really too far?

Mr. Romance:
...

***

ImUrMan:
How u doing?

Queen_V:
Good. You? :)

ImUrMan:
Good. You got DSL.

Queen_V:
...You want to know about my Internet speed?

ImUrMan:
Naw lol I’m talkin about yur lips.

Queen_V:
DSL?

ImUrMan:
Look it up baby

Queen_V:
Ok...?

Queen_V:
Fuck you

ImUrMan:
lol
Its a conplemint. Ur lips look so good.

Queen_V:
Never speak to me again

ImUrMan:
Dang lol

Queen_V:
What’s so funny? You should be ashamed of yourself! You’re disgusting and you can’t spell.

ImUrMan:
Lol Alrite. Im not hurt

Queen_V:
I wish you were.

***

PartyRok93:
Hey cutie :) We should chill.

Queen_V:
You’re cute but do you know how old I am?

PartyRok93:
I c that. I like older women tho. I prefer it :) Do you like white guys?

Queen_V:
I like all kinds of men. If I had a problem with ‘white guys’ I wouldn’t speak to you at all lol

PartyRok93:
True lol How about we chill tonite?

Queen_V:
What do u mean by “chill”?

PartyRok93:
Chill. Watch a movie or whatever boo. I got Netflix.

Queen_V:
You want me to come to ur house? Right now? After exchanging three messages with me?

PartyRok93:
Yeah. I’m sayin. YOLO.

Queen_V:
What’s that?

PartyRok93:
You only live once, boo. Plz come chill with me Beautiful. No worries. My folks aren’t home.

Queen_V:
I can’t, Boo. Sry.

PartyRok93:
:(

***

JuanRico19:
Hi. How was your weekend?

Queen_V:
Decent. How was yours?

JuanRico19:
It was cool. I took my niece to the beach. Went to a show with some friends. I wish I had a girl like you on my arm last night.

Queen_V:
Yeah? :) What kind of show did you go to?

JuanRico19:
A techno dj from NY

Queen_V:
I can’t handle that kind of music lol

JuanRico19:
Haha! That’s okay.

Queen_V:
Do you speak Spanish?

JuanRico19:
Not much. I understand more than I can speak. Why?

Queen_V:
Just wondering if I’d be able to practice with you lol

JuanRico19:
Aw lol I can tell you are a real sweetheart. It’s hard to find that.

Queen_V:
Yeah. It’s hard to find someone genuine nowadays

JuanRico19:
R u going on dates with anyone?

Queen_V:
No. Not yet.

JuanRico19:
Good. Give me your number :P

Queen_V:
It’s too soon for that

JuanRico19:
I want to be able to tell you goodnight and wish you good morning.

Queen_V:
How sweet :) Let’s keep sending messages this way first. I’m gonna go take a shower. I’ll brb.

JuanRico19:
When will you be done? :)

Queen_V:
Um... I don’t know the precise time... 

JuanRico19:
Hurry back :P Message me as soon as ur done. Okay?

JuanRico19:
Wow. You’re taking a long shower lol I miss u! lol :P

Queen_V:
...

JuanRico19:
You’re not gonna talk to me anymor? :(

Queen_V:
...

JuanRico19:
We can’t at least b friends?

***

BigJohnson2:
What up. You want a man dat luv cats? I luv pussy. Do dat count?

Queen_V:
Nope.

***

Arab33:
I can handle you sexy lady ;)

Queen_V:
Oh really?

Arab33:
You need lot of man to keep u happy and full

Queen_V:
Full?

Arab33:
Yes. I feed you. I like woman with meat on her bone

Queen_V:
I like myself with meat on my bones too lol

Arab33:
I love black women like you. Not so stuck up like Arab women.

Queen_V:
Why do you say that?

Arab33:
They are so materialism. They want everything for nothing. Stuck up bitches LOL

Queen_V:
Is that what you think of your mother?

Arab33:
Of course not. Why you say that?

Queen_V:
Your mother is an Arab woman so you should be careful what you say about Arab women.

Arab33:
I never ever say that about my mother. It’s the young women my age today that are so bad and materialism.

Queen_V:
Materialistic? What kind of car do you drive?

Arab33:
A Lexus GS 450. My baby LOL

Queen_V:
Do you wear jewelry?

Arab33:
I have a Rolex a gold one. Some rings too.

Queen_V:
Where
do you like to shop? JCPenney?

Arab33:
No way! LOL I look good.

Queen_V:
...

***

WeednLiqr:
Hey

Queen_V:
...

WeednLiqr:
How u doin?

Queen_V:
...

WeednLiqr:
You got a natural beauty that shine thru. I wud like to meet u. U seem like someone I would love to get wit

Queen_V:
...

***

Muscleman:
I have to say, your gorgeous for someone your size

Queen_V:
What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Muscleman:
No offense, but I usually go for petite women but you carry your extra weight in all the right places. I’m sure you don’t hear that from any guys that look like me

Queen_V:
ROFL How dare you think you’re complimenting me by saying that. Don’t you worry. You will never in life get to touch any of my ‘extra weight’

Muscleman:
Aw but I’ll gladly let you touch my muscles. One in particular ;)

Queen_V:
No matter how many supplements you take or how much time spent in the gym, that one particular muscle will never measure up, will it? Good day.

Muscleman:
Wow. Big girls are always the ones with a chip on their shoulders. A bag of chips. Haha!

Queen_V:
Then STOP TRYING TO HOLLA AT US.

***

BoutDatCheddr:
Wats gud hun?

Queen_V:
...

BoutDatCheddr:
Heyy.

Queen_V:
...

BoutDatCheddr:
U should call me. 619-474-0332

Queen_V:
...

***

TonioD :
Hi I just moved down from Kansas with only 200 dollars in my pocket and already on my feet somewhat. I have nothing to offer at the time but myself. I like what I see. You look like someone I can get along with.

Queen_V:
...

***

Ryan3298:
You are very pretty

Queen_V:
Why thank you :)

Ryan3298:
It’s been a while since I had a black chick

Queen_V:
Well, I can tell you right now, I’m not going to be the one to break your dry spell

Ryan3298:
Ouch. Why are you being a hater?

Queen_V:
Lol What exactly am I hating on?

Ryan3298:
You dismissed me just to dismiss me. That’s a hater.

Queen_V:
Any woman with self-respect would be annoyed if all you want to talk about is sex

Ryan3298:
No. Ever since I moved to CA I’ve met nothing but women with bad attitudes. They’re lower caliber.