Statistic (2 page)

Hey sexy, DTF?

What does that even mean? God I am old! After a quick Google search, I am also disgusted. One last message and I am going to be giving up for the night and finishing up my Sookie Stackhouse marathon and praying I dream of Vampire Bill.

Wow, you are beautiful. I am sure you get messages like that all the time on this shitty site, but I truly
mean it. My name is Jeremy, I am a 30 year old business man from up in Lake City. Not too far from
you. I wish I could move someplace more rural like Sharonville. Anyways, I may not be divorced or a parent myself, but none of that bothers me at all. I'm a grown man and I understand we all have
different paths that we have walked in life. Everyone has a past right? I would like to talk more if you
are up for it.

-Jeremy

Not half bad. My fingers almost start replying before I catch myself, second guessing my actions before my mind has a chance to catch up with my hands. Would replying to more than one message send me straight into the internet slut category? I mean, what is the worst that could happen? I am not planning on being in a relationship with more than one person at a time. Hell, I am not sure I am even ready for one relationship.

One of my worst traits has to be my overthinking shit. Seriously. I am not one of those people able to live in the moment. I have to overthink everything six ways to Sunday. I have to calculate what kind of a reaction my actions could bring. Negative, positive, whatever.

Maybe it’s time I really throw caution to the wind and live a little bit? Maybe just a little. Maybe just this time. I can make friends first, and see where things go. Right? What’s the worst that could really happen from replying to more than one message. Gosh, it would be so much easier if all these guys were total d-bags.

Here goes nothing. And I hope it doesn't bite me in the ass.

Jeremy,

Thank you for your refreshing message. Today on this site I learned the lovely term DTF, so of course
after reading this I have my faith in humanity renewed ever so slightly. How do you like Lake City? I used to love spending a long weekend up there. That darling little Bed and Breakfast on the Lake is
gorgeous. Even if it’s the outskirts of town. I would love to chat more, see what you are all about.

-Aurora

On that note, I’m done for the night. I’ve replied to two messages successfully and deleted another dozen without a second thought. I can only wonder if those pickup lines actually work for guys these days. If they do, those girls really need to evaluate their self respect big time.

I let out a yawn and stretch my legs out accidentally kicking something that had taken up residency at the end of my bed.

“Damn it Pesky! You can't scare me like that!” Ok, so I am overly jumpy living alone these days. Especially when Liam is gone for the weekend. Like my pint sized four year old could actually protect me from anything. What a joke. But it still is nice to have another person in the house none the less. The resident neighborhood stray had taken up the annoying habit of coming in at night whenever I left a window open.

I don't know about you, but first thing in the morning I lie in bed and scroll through my cell phone. Facebook, Google +, Twitter, email. Those all come first even before brushing my teeth. I have always been like that and maybe that’s why I am such a social media guru. It’s both a blessing and a curse.

Normally, I wouldn't have even bothered to check my inbox on the dating website, but I guess after putting myself out there last night, I was just a little curious. I tap the app and open it up, scrolling through a couple new messages, but only coming to a stop when I see Brent's picture. He actually replied. That is a good thing, right?

Aurora,

A business owner huh? Impressive, love. I am glad you decided to reply to me. I sent that message a week ago, I had almost lost all hope that you would actually reply. I know it may seem a little sudden
or abrupt but would you like to go out to dinner one night this week? It is okay if you aren't up for
it. I will totally understand. I will have to find a sitter for my son since I have him full time, but I will
make it work somehow.

-Brent

Out of the entire message, it isn't the date invite that strikes me. It is the fact that he is a single father whom has his son full time. Not something you hear often. I am completely intrigued but not enough to meet him. I need the safety net the anonymous internet provides just a little bit longer.

Brent,

I appreciate your offer, but I am still so new to this and don't think I would be up for meeting just yet.
I hope you can understand. I would love to learn more about you. Maybe chat on here some more
and get to know each other to the point that I am more comfortable. I hope that doesn't come off as sounding high maintenance, because that is one thing I am not. Ha!

Also, it's not everyday that you see a man who has custody of their child. I would love to maybe break the ice by starting there?

-Aurora

Almost instantly after I pressed send on the message, my message alert pinged again with a reply from him. Wouldn't it be strange if he was laying in bed right now doing the same exact thing as me? This whole internet world is actually really creepy sometimes. It is a good thought and a bad thought all wrapped into one.

Aurora,

I respect that. It isn't typical on these sites, but then again most people on here are just looking for a
cheap hookup which isn't my thing. I don't typically talk about Max, but I feel oddly comfortable talking with you about our situation.

I've been a single father since Max was born. My wife died during childbirth with him. It was horrible

and tragic, but it is something I have come to terms with over the years. I have had a lot of time to

think about everything that happened and I am finally starting to come to terms with it all. It was

meant to be, no matter how much it killed me at the time.

I've probably said way too much already, but I hope you won't hold it against me.

Do you mind me asking your story?

-Brent

Whoa. Well, this just took a completely unexpected turn. My heart breaks for this poor guy. I can't imagine bringing a baby home from the hospital only to plan a funeral. Tears start pooling in my eyes and I have to take a minute and compose myself. I swing my legs off the side of my bed and make my way to the bathroom as the thoughts of leaving Liam behind flood my mind. Being a new parent was hard enough on me, how could I have ever done it alone? Colin would have never survived if something like that happened to me.

I pick my phone back up a few moments later and try to think about the most tactful reply I can say without bawling like a baby. Thank god he can't see me through these messages because he would probably think I am a nut case for being such a blubbering mess. I just always have worn my heart on my sleeve. I am just an emotional person.

Brent,

I am so sorry for your loss. I am sure you have heard so many people say that. But, I truly mean it. I

cannot even imagine how hard that must have been on you. I am also really sorry for bringing that

up. I am sure it is not a good memory for you. Not something you really want to lead off with huh?

Me, huh? Well, I married my high school sweetheart. I guess I was naïve for a long time. It wasn't until

I was put on bedrest when I was pregnant with my son Liam that my ex's true colors really came

out. He blamed me for not being able to be
“intimate”
with him, and started cheating on me. It only

spiraled out of control from there. I tried to fix our broken relationship for the better part of two

years after that. But, sadly I came to realize it wasn't me with the problem. No matter what I tried,

Colin had a problem with staying faithful and that is a deal breaker for me.

So, I filed for divorce and he pitched a fit and has been fighting with me ever since. Now, he just uses

Liam as ammunition when he decides he has enough time to actually visit with his own child.

I have also said way too much. Ha! I guess we are both in that boat today huh?

Maybe it is the comfort factor.

-Aurora

Well, maybe I will just go take a shower. I have already spilled way too much of my personal life to a guy. Something I told myself I wasn't going to do with any of the guys from this damn website. I can't even keep a promise to myself. Ha!

Before I chucked my phone onto the bed and made my way for the shower, I had to check my messages one last time. I feel like a moth who is attracted to a flame. I can only hope I am not going to get burnt. One message stands out to me. One message that wasn't there minutes ago when I chatting back and forth with Brent.

Aurora. That is a beautiful name for an extremely beautiful lady. DTF huh? I'm sorry you had to deal with some disrespectful little shit, because those are the only kind of guys who would use a term like

that when talking to someone like you. I actually live a block away from The Old Barn (the bed and breakfast). It is a gorgeous little place. I've
been there once before when my mother was visiting. What am I all about? So many things but I will start with a few. I love art when I am not sitting behind my desk doing the 9-5 thing. I love creating it, collecting it, and visiting galleries, even though there aren't very many locally. That is one thing I miss about living in New York City. I also go to the gym daily, but I'm not one of those meatheads. I am actually a former fat kid believe it or not.

Hmmmmm... I hate talking about myself, so this is like pulling teeth. I like hiking out in the country.
The animal preserve is a beautiful area for that. I've seen some cool stuff out there while making it
up the mountain. I am kind of a homebody. I love movies, mainly action but I am a closet sucker for chick flicks too. Don’t tell anyone though. LOL

I am looking to settle down. I was engaged for four years, but when it came time to move south, my fiancé
wouldn't leave the hustle and bustle of the city to join me. We tried to make things work long distance for a while, but unfortunately there was no way to make a marriage work with that kind of distance, so we ended it.

I wish I could say it was on good terms. That is something to talk about later on, maybe in person if I could persuade you to go out on a date with me?

-Jeremy

I wasn't expecting a damn book back from him. Maybe all the guys on this website aren't complete creeps. I type out a short and sweet reply to him and get on with my day, and my shower. Throwing together a quick crockpot meal for when Liam gets home later on tonight. I can only hope Colin doesn't take him out for some cheap McDonald's on his way to drop him off. Then again, I should already know that is exactly what he is going to do because he always does it.