“I’m sorry,” I said. “It has nothing to do with you. I—I don’t know if you heard me in there, when I said that I lost my wife a few years ago...”
She nodded. “I did catch that, yeah.”
“Dating has just been… basically impossible since then.”
“Impossible how?”
I laughed. “Well, if you had asked me that yesterday, I wouldn’t have been able to put it into words, but earlier tonight, before I met up with you, my daughter said something that really put the whole thing into perspective. She thinks I am comparing every woman I meet to my wife, and she’s right. I guess I’m just waiting to feel the same way about someone else as I did her.”
“Sounds like you are setting the bar pretty high,” she said. “No one could meet those expectations, if we’re talking about the love of your life here.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s not fair. To the women I meet or to myself. I can’t help it though. I want to feel that instant connection, like I did when I met Erin.”
And like I felt when I saw Kat on the elevator.
“Uh miss,” one of the valet workers interrupted us. “Your car.”
Nina turned around and verified it was indeed her car. She gave the man a tip and went around to the driver’s side door. “It was nice to meet you, Jonah,” she said before getting in. “I hope you find what you’re looking for. But on the off chance you don’t, and you decide to lower your standards a little,” she laughed, “call me.”
I waved. “Will do.”
She got in the car and drove away, leaving me alone on the curb, trying not to think anymore inappropriate thoughts about SHDC’s newest hire.
* * *
Calvin was getting his guitar tuned, sitting on stage by the microphone, when I walked into the bar. It was a little after 10, but I knew he would start late. He always did. I spotted Sean behind the bar, so I went over and ordered a drink.
“I didn’t know you were on bartending duty tonight,” I said.
“I wasn’t supposed to be,” he said. “But my guy, Benny, his wife went into labor.”
“Lia is pregnant?” I gawked.
He checked his watch. “Well, she might not be anymore. Really depends on how the whole labor thing went.”
I chuckled. “I guess that’s a good point. Remind me to send them a congratulatory gift or something. I haven’t seen them in years.”
“Yeah, that’s because you never come out and get drinks with us anymore!” Sean handed me my gin and tonic.
“Well, between being a single parent, running a company, and going out with all those women you set me up with, when would I be able to find the time?”
He flashed me a smile. “Speaking of, how did you like Nina? She’s cool, yeah?”
“She’s… nice.”
“Nice? She’s great! I thought for sure you two would hit it off!”
I took a sip and turned to look up at the stage. “It just wasn’t the right fit. That’s all.”
“You’re so picky, you know that?” Sean leaned over the bar so I could hear him better as he scolded me. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to end up alienating yourself from every single, middle-aged woman in the city!”
My eyes scanned the crowd and landed on a vision in all black. Dressed a lot like Nina, only with a shorter hem and higher heels, Kat was standing off to the side, holding a beer and talking with another girl who looked to be about her age.
“Maybe I just need to widen my parameters a little,” I said softly.
“You just need to what?” Sean asked.
I ignored him and watched as Kat tossed some hair behind her shoulder, revealing the smooth skin of her arms and her fiery red nail polish. I took another sip, and as I did, she turned her head.