Starting Up A New Relationship

Chapter 1

A New Start

Two years passed since Marcus, and I broke up. I had to move out of the apartment I was supposed to share with him. I moved in with my Korean adopted brother, Ken. I am now a professional blogger and a Lyft/Uber driver to help me pay my bills. I was just now getting out of the financial whole that Marcus left me in. I’m in the Royal House Cafe, waiting on Yasmine to show up. Just as I took a sip of my white chocolate chip latte, I tapped my pencil on the side of my dented MacBook, finishing up on my tenth blog on K-pop. Yasmine walks up excitedly as she ordered almost the same latte as me except hers was Caramel and a size larger.

“Girl…guess what?”

“What?”

“Remember when I said we should try online dating?”

“Yes, I remember.” I said sipping on the rest of my latte.

“Well, I think I found the perfect app. It's called, ‘Amour Connect’,” Yasmine said excitedly as she showed me on her phone.

“I don’t know about this…Marcus and I met online; you’re already know how that went.” I mumbled. Yasmine rolled her eyes at me, “Girl…. it’s been two years since you and Marcus broke up. I mean it’s time for you to move on.”

I carefully set up my profile and then I put my phone down. Yasmine phone buzzed with a notification from the app. “Oh, look, I already have a match!” Yasmine find someone amazing.”

I took a deep breath and downloaded the app on my phone out and downloaded the Amour Connect app. I carefully set up my profile and then I put my phone down. Yasmine phone buzzed with a notification from the app. “Oh, look, I already have a match!” Yasmine opened her phone and saw it was a pale green eyed man profile picture popped up. His hair was cut in a textured quiff, he was dressed in an expensive tailored outfit. Yasmine looked at his bio. It read: “A passionate fun-loving guy. A man of mystery and lover of mysteries.” Yasmine smiled mischievously,

“Okay…Well, isn't he interesting.” She nudged me playfully.

“So are you going to click on him.”

“I am not. I’m just going to let him message me first then I go for the hook.”

I covered my mouth trying not to laugh at Yasmine's comment. But she was right about me. I am so scared to even try this online dating app. I mean I thought Marcus was the one and he proved that he was the very worst. Yasmine's phone rang from the office. Yasmine looked at her phone and smiled at me.

“So, are you going to try the app?” I sat back in my chair and blushed at the question she asked me. Yet I was still unsure about the idea.

“I don’t know. I mean look how; Marcus turned out. I don’t think I could go through that again. I’ve just been…”

“You been working, writing, and blogging. Girl, I know.” Yasmine cut me off finishing my sentence for me. She knew me like a book. “Marcus made you afraid of love and you want to know what else, I blame Uncle Derrick because he’s also the problem. They are the only two men that have made you afraid of love. Uncle Derrick is a mean old man, and Marcus is a goon... As far as I am concerned, I am glad you’re living with Ken ” Said Yasmine as she finished off the last bit of her latte. “I’m saying this because you’re my best friend and favorite cousin, I am not about to let you die alone.” As Yasmine continued. I laughed softly at Yasmine.

“I love you girl." I chuckled softly. Yasmine smiled at me.

“I love you too boo, but I have to get to work. Yasmine kissed my cheek, and she walked out of the cafe. Nyla looked out of the window and smiles.

Later That Day

I had went home after I came from the cafe, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Yasmine was right. My relationship with my father was definitely rocky, I mean it was like I couldn’t win with him. Ken had a better relationship with him than I did and I was biologically his daughter. Ken was adopted and at one point I hated my father for treating Ken better than me. Yet my brother was always supportive, always there for me, and I couldn't help but love him for it. I set down on the sofa to watch a mellow drama.

Just then Ken and Keisha had just walked in from their date. Keisha smiled at me as set down next to me on the couch. Ken chuckled and plopped down on the other side of me. I smiled at them. “So….why are you two so happy to see me, are you kicking me out or..?” Ken smiled at me, “Now come on Ny. It’s nothing like that but, Keisha and I have some exciting news.”

“What is it?” I asked eagerly. “We're getting married!” Keisha exclaimed, flashing her expensive engagement ring.

I screamed happily for the both of them and hugged them. “I’m so happy for you two” Keisha smiled and hugged me back. “I’m going to call my mom and dad.” She said as she hopped from from the sofa and went into the bedroom. Ken stayed behind to check on me.

“So…Are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?”

“Yasmine and I were talking, and she said something that have me thinking.” Ken sat back. “What did she say, that have you thinking?”

“She mentioned that the reason I have commitment issues is because of Marcus and Dad. I mean she’s right; dad loves you, and fault me for everything and makes me feel like nothing I do is ever good enough.” Ken smiled at me “Sis…You know how dad is…he’s getting old and honorary, and I mean I know everything is not your fault, Mom knows everything is not your fault. Besides, I’ll always have your back. You my ace king coon boon, and my little sister. So don’t worry about him, Okay?” I nodded and gave him a hug.

“I'm lucky to have you as my big brother,” I said, feeling reassured by Ken 's support. After we hugged, Ken grinned. “I've got your back, always,” he said, playfully tousling my hair. He then got up to go in his bedroom where Keisha was.

I sat back and then my phone got a notification from AmourConnect letting me know I had a match. I had clicked on the notification to see who the match was, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a profile that caught my interest. He had a curly hair fade, his eyes were dark brown, He dressed in a casual yet stylish manner, and his profile gave me a pause but it wasn’t terrible. I checked his bio, he’s a advertising executive . Without overthinking it, I decided to send him a message but before I could send a message he sent me one first.

“Hey. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Fabian, what’s your name?”

I smiled to myself and I messaged back.

“My name is Nyla, nice to meet you too. How’s your day going?”

We talked had talked for a bit and made plans to meet up for coffee tomorrow.

The next day,

I walked into the coffee shop, I spotted him sitting at a table by the window. When he saw me he stood up and flashed a warm, inviting smile. His eyes sparkled as he gestured for me to join him. I set down and we both ordered our coffee and something to eat and we talked and the conversation turned side ways.

“Next time I’ll order what you going to eat. Then I’ll pick your outfit out for our next date.”

Now either I’m hearing things or this man is for real, because what the heck? I thought to myself, trying to gauge his seriousness. I know this fool didn’t just say he’ll pick out what I’m going to wear on the next date and he going to order what I’m going to eat. I chuckled because, uh no, not happening. I smiled.

“I don’t think this is going to work out.”

I got up and left him there. I went home and decided to block his number and unmatched him on the dating app. I couldn't believe he had the audacity to suggest something like that so soon.

Three weeks later,

After that terrible date with Fabian, I decided to devote more of time to my blogs and working. I felt like giving the Amour Connect another shot. I went on my app, and saw I had a matched with someone name Boston, he went by his middle name although he mentioned his name was Terrell, and I already knew this date wasn’t going to last long. We made plans to meet at a cozy restaurant in Metairie. We met at the restaurant; he was dressed in a nice knit sweater with black slacks. When, I set down across from him. The date went sideways, after we ordered our food and ate our food. The waited gave us the check. Terrell picked up the check and looked at it.

“I only had the chicken pasta and the one drink.” He said.

“What?”

Yeah. Our bill is $100.30. Since I only had the Louisiana red fish, with potatoes and broccoli and a drink. That was $32.00, so which means you, owe me, as he grabbed his phone to calculate my portion of the bill.

As he was calculating, I rolled my eyes and thought to myself, that this couldn’t be happening to me again. He finally told me my part of the bill. Reluctantly, I handed him the cash, almost throwing it at him and grabbed my purse to leave. I swore to myself this was the last time I'd use that app. I went home and tossed my phone onto the couch, frustrated and defeated, because I couldn’t believe the night I had. At that moment I decided to give up dating for good, at least for a while. I turned off the lights, climbed into bed, and tried to forget the whole miserable evening.