An Honest Mistake

“Girl, I don’t think this is the place,” Maggie whispered. “You know, unless he’s into dumping bodies.”

I groaned. I knew it had been too good to be true when I’d matched on the dating app with the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen and he’d invited me to bring a friend along for a private culinary experience. What kind of person did that for a first date? 

“Can’t believe this,” I muttered, staring out over the massive swamp.

A broken-down red truck had been abandoned in a parking lot overrun with weeds and several old tires laid strewn about next to it. Mosquitos buzzed around our ears begging for a little taste.

“Let’s get out of here before we get murdered,” Maggie said.

I snorted.

“I swear there’s something moving in the water.”

“Nope,” she said, sprinting back to her blue SUV.

I ran after her, not sure how we didn’t realize how wrong we’d been when we started heading out of New Orleans instead of in. I hopped back in the car and Maggie peeled out of there, my home address already loaded in the GPS.

“Okay, Lucy, I know he was hot and owned a railroad or some shit, but next time let’s get him to agree to pizza on Magazine Street. Very easy, very public,” she said.

“But we had so much in common, Mags and we talked on the phone through the app for hours. He didn’t make fun of me for loving cosplaying. It all felt so real. I can’t believe it,” I said, propping my head against the window.

Maggie squeezed my shoulder.

“I’m sure the next one will be better,” she said. The kindness in her voice almost made it worse.

I was a pathetic and desperate mess after my ex-boyfriend David had cheated on me. Even though it wasn’t “cool,” I liked being a girlfriend. Being in a relationship. Having someone to cuddle with, talk about your day with and share your hopes and dreams. I was not a single girlie.

When we were close to the city, my phone beeped with a new message from RailroadPrez07.

“Wonder what the bastard has to say,” I said, opening the app.

RailroadPrez07: Hey, you close?

GirlfriendLevel100: is that a joke?

Dots popped up before disappearing and reappearing.

RailroadPrez07: Oh my god. Lucy. I’m so sorry. I switched the house numbers. I meant to send 4238 Adams Street, not 2483

GirlfriendLevel100: I think maybe this is a sign

RailroadPrez07: No, please. I swear it was an honest mistake. Please still come.

“He says it was a mistake,” I told Maggie.

“Well, where’s the new place?” she asked.

I checked the map. A fancy neighborhood. Maggie glanced at me and then at the GPS and back at the road before she tapped a few buttons on the multimedia screen and the right destination was plugged in.

I raised a brow at her. She shrugged.

“It’s hard to find a dude who’s cool with cosplaying.”