I met my first girlfriend just two blocks from where I lived in Williamsbridge, The Bronx. It was September 1972 and I had started my senior year at high school. I was seventeen years old and my romantic experiences at school had been, frankly, non-existent. Maybe high school was overrated as a dating location, but I hadn’t found a single prospect during my three years there. By that point, I was starting to think ahead t...

It was just another boring book signing until the two beautiful women walked up to the table. The tall blonde spoke first as the gorgeous redhead smiled shyly at me. “Will you sign my book, Mr. Daniels?” “Absolutely. But you’ll have to go to dinner with me.” “Sorry, I’m married.” “Sadly, all the good ones are.” The redhead spoke up. “I’m not.” I smiled at her. “Hmm. So do I need to amend my statement, or are you not good?...

  Haumia and her good friend Phoenicia, were at their usual Friday night spot, Short’s Tavern and Dance Emporium. It was Haumia’s turn to play wing lady. The two guys they’d been dancing with weren’t bad looking. They were also acceptable in the conversation department. Unfortunately for them, they relied too much on their bodies and assumed charm. Flirting wasn’t a skill they’d spent much time learning, that and being po...

“Hey, Sal,” Lenny said as soon as the door was opened. “You look nice.” “Hi, Lenny,” Sally said, smiling broadly, then instantly looking away, feeling herself blush.  “He ready?” Lenny and her brother, Rob, had planned on going to the local drive-in movie, to hang out with everyone else who would be there on this hot Saturday in July.  Sally stepped aside to let Lenny in. “Not quite.” Rob and his mother were yelling over...

I woke up in a daze; the night before seemed to be a distant memory. Slowly I rose out of bed. "Ow," I said as my head pounded. I hadn't had a hangover in years; then again, I hadn't drunk that much in years. The memory of me celebrating and having a good time came to me like water rushing through a flood gate. "Never again," I said, slowly getting to my feet. With each step, my head felt like a jackhammer was working its...

That night I found myself tossing and turning, wondering what exactly Lincoln had meant by those words. It’s a date. Romantic or not, this would probably be considered my first proper date. Sure, I had hung out with guys occasionally during high school… but I wouldn’t consider awkwardly making out with a guy at a party while he pawed at my chest a date. Rolling over towards my nightstand, I glanced at my phone. 2:15 AM. S...

“Almost ready to go, sweetie?” I said to him in a soft tone. He just stared at me with this deer-in-the-headlights look for a long second before coming to and replying, “Wow, you look really pretty, mom.” I smiled and thanked him. I hoped I looked really good because I spent a lot of time getting ready for him. We were going on our first official date that night. He’d asked me out earlier that week and was really adorable...

"I will be having a bagel and orange juice. How about you?""One large coffee with two milks, no cream, and no sugar.""No sugar?""I'm sweet enough as is, like brown sugar, baby.""Seriously, dude? Why are you making me laugh?""Because I'm cute.""You are cute.""So are you. Now your cheeks are getting red.""Stop looking at my cheeks.""Where would you like me to look?""In my eyes.""They are beautiful.""I'm so warm now.""You ar...

“That's my seat.”“What was that?”“You're in my seat.” I showed him the cinema ticket. “I wouldn't make a big deal about it, because I don't want to break up your friend group, but I don't want to take someone else's seat either.”“We just have to each move down one. Guys?” He and his two male friends each shifted in the theater row to their assigned numbers.“Thank you.”“No worries.”“Hey…” I mused as rested in the reclining...

I met Heather using an online dating app. We matched, hit it off and chatted for a couple of days before arranging to meet. She was divorced, like me, and a mother of two young children. Typically, despite our best-laid plans, real life continued to get in the way. So one or other of us kept cancelling. Unexpectedly, I was offered two free tickets to Matilda The Musical and we set a date in stone — one that neither of us...