Page 1 of Romero and Juliette

chapter

one

Juliette

Online dating is not for the weak-minded. Or the weak-stomached, for that matter. I finally found an app that doesn’t unlock pictures until you go through several stages of communication. It can be frustrating, but it’s eliminated the dick pics, which I appreciate.

You would think that working as a mechanic at my family’s garage would mean I have loads of opportunities to meet guys. And I guess I do, in some ways. But the truth is, I’ve lived in Saddle Creek, Texas, my entire life, and most of the guys around here have been here the whole time.

I wouldn’t call myself an adventurous person, but I am interested in people who didn’t grow up here. I want to meet someone who has life experience that looks different from mine. Small-town Texas is a wonderful place to live. I don’t even think I want to move away or anything, I just want to know someone different.

Kinda like my brother, Jude, and my sister-in-law, Emory. Technically, she’s a small-town girl too, but she traveled all over before she ended up here. She has some of the best stories from when she was on the road all the time.

In any case, I started this online dating journey a few months ago and it has been interesting and eye-opening, to say the least. But no real connections yet. I haven’t told anyone in my family about this venture. They’ll tell me I’m too young to be looking for my forever.

Age is irrelevant. I’m a legal adult, that’s all that matters. I’m old enough to do pretty much whatever I want. Except for renting a car, but I don’t have any need to do that, so I’m good.

But the raw truth of it all is that no one is guaranteed a nice, long life. My family should understand that more than most. Our parents died in an accident when I was seven. Jude was barely twenty, but he put his entire life on hold for me, Aria, and Sofia. So we’d all stay together and not get put into foster care. I know it was a massive sacrifice.

I don’t remember a lot about my parents since they’ve been gone so long, but I do know they were wildly in love with each other. They planned to grow old together, but that didn’t happen. So yeah, no one is guaranteed anything.

If I don’t get to live a long life, I at least want to live one next to someone I’m wildly in love with. Thus, the online dating.

Randall#1: You’re gorgeous. Like, I can’t stop staring at your pics.

FleetwdLvr05: My pics don’t have any with my face.

Randall#1: But you’re curves are banging.

FleetwdLvr05: Uh… thanks.

Randall#1: Seriously, I think you might be my dream girl.

FleetwdLvr05: ...That’s a lot for a Tuesday.

And Randall#1 gets blocked.

FleetwdLvr05: Hey! How’s your week going?

Ryan89: Hey. Busy. You?

FleetwdLvr05: Same. Trying to survive on coffee and good intentions.

Ryan89: Lol same here.

I exit the chat. I won’t block him because maybe he’s just busy. But sheesh, learn how to have a back-and-forth conversation.

FleetwdLvr05: Hey, what kind of music do you like?

Fit4Life: Whatever you dance to, gorgeous.

FleetwdLvr05: Uh… okay, but seriously, favorite band?

Fit4Life: Anything fast with a groove so I can get my dance on. When are we grabbing drinks?

FleetwdLvr05: ...I think I’m busy forever.

Who talks like that? Moving on.