Is it time for me to start dating?
And should I try out this so-called Team Shifter app?
Meeting the new guy was actually kind of exciting. He was so damn handsome and he seemed really friendly. I probably should have given him my number, but I still don’t want to take a risk when it comes to meeting someone new. I don’t really want to fall for an outsider. Not after everything I’ve gone thr
ough.
Nope.
I don’t have to date someone I know, but they need to at least be semi-local. They need to have a reputation with people around me so that I can make sure I’m not getting in over my head.
“I’m overthinking this,” I say to Hedgehog, who is rubbing against my legs as I sit at the counter.
He purrs in response, and I sigh.
“You know what?” I shake my head. “I’m being ridiculous. It’s just an app, right? I can’t live my life worrying about what could go wrong. I need to worry about what could go right instead.”
I grab my phone off the counter and install the app. Then I stare at it for a long, hard minute. Eggs forgotten, I start to fill out the create an account information. I share my name. I include my real name, which might be a mistake, but that’s okay. Birthdate? That’s easy. Type of shifter? Um...
I hesitate for just a minute before including that information, as well. If this works as well as Foxy seems to think that it will, then before I know it, I’ll be drowning with potential shifters who want to date me.
That’s the plan, right?
I don’t really know if I want to get married. I don’t know if I want kids. I don’t know much of anything except that I want to feel sexy and good about myself, and I don’t want to be alone all of the time. I think Foxy is right. Yeah. The more I think about it, the more I know she’s right, so I finish filling out my profile, and then it’s time to start swiping.
So I swipe.
The first profile I see shows the word BEAR at the top of it. There’s no picture. That’s the entire point. You won’t see someone’s picture at all because this app is supposed to take away the element of love at first sight. Instead, you’re supposed to fall in love with the way they act and the way they believe.
You’re supposed to fall in love because they’re worth loving: not because they’re super hot.
I mean, I still hope I find someone super hot.
It’s just that physical appearance isn’t the primary purpose of this particular app.
The description beneath BEAR tells me a little bit of information about this person:
Male. 29. Likes hunting, fishing, jogging.
“Hmm,” I look over at Mr. Whiskers. “What do you think?”
He stares at me, blinking.
I swipe “yes” and keep going. Who knows? Maybe he’ll match with me and we’ll be able to have some fun conversations together. Not everything has to lead to sex or a relationship. It’s completely fine to have some fun and just get to know people.
The next profile that comes up says DEER.
Female. 34. Likes dancing, reading, jogging.
“A lot of these people like jogging,” I mutter, and I swipe “yes.” It’s been awhile since I dated a woman. That could be fun. Besides, jogging isn’t really that bad, is it?
Yeah, it’s fucking awful. I shake my head, but it’s too late now. It’s okay, though. What are the chances of me matching with someone who wants to go jogging on our first date, anyway? That sounds like something we can worry about later.
Way later.
The next few people I all swipe “yes” to. There’s a bear who likes traveling. There’s a wolf who likes camping. There are a couple of shifters who enjoy going to bars. I wonder how many of these people I’ve seen in my bar. What am I going to do if that’s where I get invited for my first date through the app? Obviously, I’ll have to gently suggest another location, but that’s okay.
I swipe for a few more minutes and stare at my phone. Nothing happens, though. How long is it supposed to take to get a match?