Biker's Virgin

"Whatever. Don't tie yourself down. You're still young," I said loftily.

"You're older than me by nine months, grandma," she joked.

"Yeah, but I already know what a great relationship feels like. It's hard not to look for that in other guys," I said.

"You and Rome?" she asked.

I nodded. I heard one time that you need half the duration of a relationship to get over it. According to that theory, I wasn't over Roman yet. I needed another six or seven months before I was. I wasn't sure about all that. I felt over it. I hadn't seen him since he had dumped me, and he had made himself pretty clear about what he had wanted then so I hadn't spent a lot of time hanging on to something that wasn't there. I don’t love you anymore; that was what he had said. It had hurt at the time, but what was clearer than that?

"It's a little hard not to compare when I'm with someone new. We were both young and almost three years felt like such a long time."

"Looking for Roman in every guy you meet is a recipe for disaster," she said.

"I know that. I just can't treat it like it didn't happen, like it didn't change all the standards I thought I had for guys before meeting him."

"If it's like that, then why are you still with Sean? Fixer-uppers aren't cute, they're work. They just hold you back while making you put up with their bullshit. The fact that you believe they can change just means they really don't have to. You'll be there for them either way."

"Is this an intervention?"

"Yes," she said confidently, sitting up straighter. "I think you should see other people."

"No," I said quickly.

"Come on, you said he was dating other girls. If you two haven't agreed on being exclusive, then what's the problem?"

"I don't want to juggle a bunch of guys. I'm not built like that."

"Don't give Sean boyfriend privileges when he isn't your boyfriend. Just go out on a date with someone."

"Hello? Didn't we just say that all the good guys are either taken or gay?"

"I know a guy from work who I think you might like."

"What are you gonna do? Set us up? Blind date style?"

"One date, Vee. Just one date," she insisted.

"If he's such a good guy, why don't you go out with him?"

"We work together. I don't shit where I eat," she said smirking. "So?"

"I appreciate the help, but it's still a pass," I said.

"Tell me, what is Sean doing right now?" she asked.

"I don't know. I didn't ask him."

"Does he know what you're doing?"

"No. Where are you going with this?"

"Did he even reschedule? Act interested in making it up to you some other time?"

"I ignored his phone calls," I admitted.

"Then that means you feel it, too. Just let me set you up. Most guys who are worth anything won't leave you hanging after making you wait for them."

I sighed. Things with Sean were... They weren't good, but they weren't really that bad, either. Tiffany was right. If I could let his phone calls go unanswered, that meant I wasn't as into him as I was trying to convince her or myself that I was.