Juice Dating extended preview

Juice Dating.

Jamie set her phone down on her dresser. “Ugh, I am never, ever trying Tinder again. There are only creeps on there.” She groaned as she fell onto her bed. “How am I supposed to find the girl of my dreams? I swear, at this point, I should just give up!”

There was a knock at her door. “Jamie? Are you in there?”

“Go away. I hate the world, and the world hates me!”

“Oh, come on. It isn’t that bad.”

She grabbed a pillow and turned onto her back. “Bad? They told me I was a stuck-up brat! How is that good?”

The door opened, and her friend Reily stood looking down at her, her blue eyes filled with concern. “So, you had a bad date.”

Jamie snorted. “You mean like an endless stream of bad dates. It’s hopeless.”

Riely sat on the edge of the bed. “Okay, it’s been quite a few dates.” She patted Jamie’s shoulder. “But you can’t give up. Your lovely lady is going to be out there somewhere.”

“You are lying. There is nothing but pain and despair out there. I just. . .”

Reily smiled. “Well, I think you can say for certain that Tinder is not the way to go.

All of those people are just. . . not looking to get to know you. The wonderful lady that I know.”

She smiled. “So maybe try something else? Hmmm? Do what me and Mark did? We just. . . met each other. It is how it works.” Her eyes sparked. “One day, you will just meet the person you are designed to—”

Jamie jumped to her feet. “You are right. I can’t stop now.”

“Of course not.”

“I have to put myself out there.”

“Yes. And—”

“I was just going about it wrong.”

Reily chuckled. “Umm, well, while putting yourself out there is good. . . you do need to—”

“Tinder was just a foolish endeavor. It was never going to work. No, what I need to try is speed dating.”

“What?” Reily sighed. “You can’t be serious.”

“Why not? I get to go through dozens of people in just an hour. I will know if they are right for me almost immediately.”

“Jamie I. . .” She snorted as Jaimie rushed to the door. “You don’t seem to be listening to me.”

Jamie smiled as she turned to face her friend in the doorway. “Oh, but I am.

This is just perfect. Perfect. I know of a quaint little speed-dating place just down the road from here. I never went in the place as I thought it was a little oddly named. Juicy Speed Dates. But I guess that just means the dates are so fast and good it’s juicy.” She giggled. “Oh, I am so tingly just thinking about it.”

Riely held her hand out as Jamie danced out of the room, but it was too late; her friend was gone. “Ughh.”

“Hmm, hmmm, hmmmm.” Jamie bounced across the room, grabbing her coat. “I am in such a good mood I think I will go down there right now. What if the woman of my dreams is waiting for me right now? I mean, it is the month of love.” She sighed. “I am a bit too late for Valentine’s Day, but what can you do? Can’t make this perfect. But still, the signs are there. I am going to meet the girl of my dreams. I can just. . . taste it!” She bounced towards the door. “Riely? Can you please lock up? I know you have a key, so don’t you dare walk out of here without locking my apartment, you hear!” Jamie stepped out of the door and set out on her romantic adventure.

***

About ten minutes later, she arrived at Juicy Speed Dates. She was in luck because the place was just opening when she arrived, and one of the employees was flipping the sign when she walked up to the door. “Hello.” She waved to the young man. “It seems I am just on time.”

He arched an eyebrow. “It appears so.” He opened the door for Jamie. “Welcome to Juicy Speed Dates.” He spoke in a monotone voice. “Your gateway to your heart’s desire awaits within. Please find a seat and wait for the juicy festivities to begin.” He sighed. “Since you arrived so early, it will be a while. I suggest ordering something to hold yourself over.”

“Ordering something?”

He nodded. “Before the dating begins, we like to serve our guests a light dinner.

This place is a dinner as well. Just consider it a free meal.”

“Really? That is. . . awesome. This place is already much better than Tinder.” She hugged the young man. “Thank you so much.”

He snorted. “No, thank you.” He turned around. “Now, please go and find a seat. I have work to do.”

Jamie walked across the strange dinner to a booth at the far end. The first thing she noticed was the overwhelming stench of blueberries. “Hmm. . .” She rubbed her nose. “I wonder why there is. . . such a stench.”

A waitress walked over to Jamie. “So you are here for our little event, are you?”

She smiled. “Happy to have you. What do you want?”

“Umm. . . just water.”

The waitress shook her head. “Company rules. You have to order some food to participate in the speed dating. So, look over the menu and tell me what you want.”

“Umm, weird.” Jamie looked over the list. “I guess I will just have some pretzels. I can eat more when I find my date.”

“Great.” The waitress leaned over. “But if I would make a recommendation. You might want to have something more than that now. Trust me, you won’t be eating later.”

“Huh?”

She leaned back and laughed, her long golden curls bouncing against her shoulders. “Oh, nothing. Just choose what you want.” She pulled out her pen and pad. “So, are you sure it will just be the pretzels?”

“Umm. . .” Jamie gulped. “I guess the blueberry pie wouldn’t hurt.”

“Splendid.” The waitress turned around. “It’s the house favorite. You won’t be disappointed.”

Jamie tapped her fingers as she waited. “This sure is strange. I can’t believe they force you to eat here. And who the hell has a blueberry-themed menu? I guess it goes with the theme of this place. It’s a juicy delight.” She giggled in her mind. “Ahh, well, a pie can’t hurt, can it? I get one small slice, and it’s on to meeting people. Girl of my dreams, here I come.”

The waitress was back almost immediately with a steaming hot pie. “Here you are.” She smiled. “You are lucky you know that. Tonight is ladies’ night.”

“Really?” Jamie smiled. “That is perfect.” She used a knife to cut herself a piece. “Now, I really will meet the woman of my dreams.” She watched as ladies began to walk into the establishment. “Hmm, looks like it might be a lively night, too. Good. Should be fun.” She smiled as she took a bite out of the pie. “This is better than I thought. I was only going to have one slice, but. . .” She licked her lips. “Maybe I could. . .”

As more and more people drifted in, Jamie slowly ate her pie. She couldn’t stop eating it; it was just too good. It was almost like the food had some hypnotic spell on her. Part of her mind knew she should stop, that if she kept going, she might start to fill out her blouse. But her hands wouldn’t listen to her brain. The fantastic sensations the pie sent throughout her body were just. . . too good. This went far beyond good pie; this was as if mankind found life on another planet and that life had brought back the miracle of the best food in the cosmos.

“Okay, everyone.” A young man in a suit stood in the center of the room. “I know you are all in the middle of your meals, but we are almost ready to start tonight’s speed dating extravaganza. Remember, if you haven’t had some of our wonderful food, you can’t participate.” He smiled. “We will be starting at nine p.m. sharp, so please enjoy yourselves until then.”

Jamie looked up at the clock. “Hmm, that isn’t too long from now. Just five minutes.” She took another bite of her pie. “Five minutes until I can find my special someone.” Gurrgle.  Jamie blinked her eyes. “What was that?” She shivered. “I think I should slow down on the pie. . .” She groaned. “But it’s sooo good.”

“Okay, everyone, can you please head to the center of the room.”

Jamie took a deep breath. “Phew.” She stood up. “At least I have a good reason to stop.”

She walked with the other women to the center.