Speed Dating

The group of friends that you came to the resort with are splitting up into their respective sexual identifying areas. You feel like you are choking, not having done something like this before. After a long first night and early morning of drinking at the resort, you all ended up here thinking it was a good idea and that you were brave.

It wasn’t. Not even close.

It was simple, in theory. Three rounds, where each round has questions posted that each person would answer. At the end of the rounds, everyone was allowed to find those that they matched with and either exchange information or part ways. It was sort of a more exciting blind date kind of deal. But you’ve never done something like this before and you don’t want to.

But exciting isn’t really where you see this playing out. It just feels embarrassing and awkward. You huff, sitting down at a booth in the corner as they begin to explain how things will work.

And all because you got talked into this conference by your friends from work in the emergency department, apparently they are giving you way too much downtime.

“Hey, got a partner yet?” You hear someone above you talk softly as your attention is drawn up to the voice, smooth like lush velvet. It’s music to your ears.

You look up and see a man standing above you, an iced glass of whiskey in hand as he takes a drink. You mess with your glass in front of you and shove a cheese cube in your mouth as a form of buying time.

You shake your head, your mouth still full of cheese, which just makes your face burn red.

“No, but I would take one if you are the one that is offering to partner up.” You say, giving him a gentle smile. His flattering grin back lights up the room and you feel yourself overcome with this spark of happiness.

“This is kind of ridiculous. But I wanted to see what it was all about.” He smirks, laughing casually as he slides into the booth across from you. So this seems like a guy that would be into one-night stands. Okay, for him you could do that.

“You’re telling me. Are you staying here, too?” You ask, watching his reaction to your questions.

“Did I miss the round starting?” He jokes as he nods, taking another slow, long drink. “I’m here for a trauma medical conference. I’m presenting tomorrow on a few topics – that I don’t particularly agree with I might add.” He says, not fazed by his status.

“Oh wow, I’m going to that. That’s why I’m here, too. My coworkers dragged me to this hell of speed dating just for some CEUs.” You laugh, feeling like you’re talking too much already. “But I know what you mean like some counties still using backboards for trauma entirely instead of just an aid from vehicle extrication.” You grumble, half thankful now that you were sent here and are getting paid to do so. But you can’t help but think it seems more enticing now that he’s going to be around.

“That’s…precisely it, actually.” He laughs, watching you with a keen new brightness to him. “We’re doing more damage to our patients over helping them. I just can’t fathom why they would want to do that to anyone.” His distress for being a patient advocate is very clear in the way he holds his facial expressions and emotions back. You hear a buzzer go off and see the screen light up with the first question.

Jesus Christ, here we go.

“Ready?” He asks – watching you for your reaction.

“What is your name?” You ask yourself out loud, rolling your eyes. “Um, it’s just Fletcher.” He snorts with a laugh and you realize almost immediately what you have done to screw this one up. Just great.

“Just Fletcher, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Maddox.” He takes another drink and a waitress comes over. She brings wine to the table before moving on to give it to the others around you.

“I meant Fletcher, sorry. This is not usually something I’d do. I’m Fletcher Bellucci.” You say, more confident in your answer this time.

“It’s still a pleasure, Fletcher. I’m still Maddox, Maddox Ramos.” You smile at him, looking down at your glass for a moment. “What is your job?” Maddox leans back in the booth while he stretches his arms in the air after looking at the screen. “I’m an emergency room doctor.” He huffs out as if he’s embarrassed he is telling you.

“Shit, so I have no chance here then with you. It’s funny, I’m an ER nurse. I guess you’d assume something like that if I’m here for the same conference, though. I’m clearly not a doctor.” You mutter out. “So, I guess if it’s you presenting then you’re gifting me with my CEUs.” You laugh dryly as you watch him acknowledge the fact that you and he are already more alike than you’d believe.

“Well, you’d be deserving of them, so of course.” Maddox says as he watches you, almost as if you’ve put him in a trance. “I think you’ve got a pretty good chance, Fletcher.” He adds, smirking at you.

“Dr. Maddox Ramos has the perfect ring to it, I’d say you found your calling.” You offer the compliment to him and as you do he reaches across the table and runs a single finger down your jawline before it touches your lips which part slightly under his electrifying hold. You suck in a sharp and wavering breath as his finger lingers there.

“I’d take care of you any day, Fletcher.” His gruff whisper ignites your body on fire rapidly. My God, this man. You feel a shiver run the length of your body, the electricity pulsating.

Is this supposed to be happening when you’re on your first partner for speed dating?

“You’re something else.” You chuckle under his touch and the second it leaves you, you feel empty.

“Favorite candy bar? That went South quickly.” Maddox smirks, watching the screen in front of the room of people. You seemed to lose your attention to the game when he became more enticing. “My go-to has got to be the Hershey’s with almonds. What about you?” He says, watching your face scrunch up under his scrutiny.

“Well, I do fancy the regular Hershey’s. I’m allergic to nuts.” You say, and the joke is already upon you. “Funny, right?” You laugh darkly to yourself.

“Like, legitimate high probability deathly allergic?” Maddox asks, taking a drink of the wine as he stares at you incitingly.

“Unfortunately yes, like, anaphylaxis allergic.” You mindlessly play with a string on your hoodie, setting your glass of wine down. “Hives, wheezing, itchy throat, the whole nine yards. I haven’t had to be intubated yet or had my throat swell shut – so I’m working up to that. I’ll show ya later.” You say, half-joking. However, there have been a handful of times that you accidentally consumed some kind of nut and nearly died due to your inattentive nature towards the allergy.

“I’d pay eight hundred dollars to see if that’s accurate. I mean, I believe you and all – but you know what they say about Santa.” He chuckles, very Christmas-like of him.

“Seeing is believing.” You roll your eyes, joking with him and realizing how effortless it feels to do that. You could ask him a million questions and never get bored of his answers.

“Oh, I think they’re moving on without us.” He says, his head tossing to the screen to prompt you to look.

“Right, sorry.” You say, rubbing a hand against the back of your neck when you realize you’ve been missing some of the questions when the conversation took its own turn. “What is your favorite comfort food?” You ask, trying to come up with your answer. “I think mine is definitely somewhere along the pizza line, something simple but filling.” His smile reminds you just how appealing he can be and oh so very quickly with it at that.

“A solid choice, but I believe I would go with chicken alfredo, probably that, or a really good burger.” He says, each of you taking extended sips of your wine that keeps getting refilled.

“These questions, some of them are so boring.” You huff as you watch the screen switch and you wish you would have kept your mouth shut as he laughs at you.

“Oh wow, well, this is an interesting one. Bedtime routine?” Maddox smirks at you, you know exactly where his mind is going. You’ve got a bedtime routine that he’d fit perfectly into.

“Hmm, very interesting. Well, if I’m just getting off work I like to have a glass of wine and watch something, sometimes I read. Then I shower and maybe take a dip in the pool or hot tub. Sometimes before I shower if my shift wasn’t total shit I’ll work out or go for a jog. Then I’ll snack and go to bed. It’s weird, I know.” You blush, feeling your face redden the longer he stared at you while you answered. His smile captures you anyway, it is registered on his face.

“A pool and a hot tub? Now I really do have to come over and check the place out, among other things.” He says, his voice nearing a low growl. “I think mine is pretty similar to yours. I’ll go for a run maybe, and grab something to eat if I don’t feel like cooking. I like to listen to music and read in the bath, but if work sucked I’ll shower instead. I like to meditate or do yoga if I have time, but that generally doesn’t happen. My first choice though is if I have someone to shower with, that’s my go-to out of my options, clearly.” Maddox’s glances towards you are starting to uproot your whole commitment to not let yourself get out of hand.

“Okay, another good one. Favorite swear word?” You nearly spit your drink out at the sight of Maddox spitting his drink out when he tries not to choke on his laugh as he hears the question.

“These are very creative people that throw this on.” He says, smirking. “I’d say a favorite of mine would have to be shit. I would use that or probably motherfucker. That’s a good one.” Maddox nods, deciding on his final decision. A smirk spreads the length of the face.

“I agree with motherfucker, that or just fuck. Just cut right to the chase.” You say, your smile matching his as you feel him watching you.

An alarm goes off to signal this is the last question for the first round and then the five-minute break starts. You feel your heart sink at the very thought of not getting to potentially talk to him again. His look holds the same emotions that you feel.

“Last question for this one, apparently.” Maddox sighs deeply as he talks and concentrates on you as your lips move.

“What is your ideal partner?” You ask, thinking for a moment to yourself. “I say mine is that I’d look for someone intelligent, funny, kind, honest, reliable, and organized. Not to mention I’ll take someone that has such a lovely olive skin tone, tall, very handsome. Maybe a doctor or something like that.” You finish, describing Maddox exactly.

He is the one to blush this time, it shows very easily how captured he is by you and your charm.

“I think mine is again similar. I’d like someone who is smart enough to know they are but doesn’t flaunt it. Someone patient and loving, kind, hopefully warm, and open to exploration. Someone who likes to cuddle and isn’t afraid to be themselves. I like authentic people. You seem like the perfect one to fit that, Fletcher.” He says, his hand now reaching across the table where it clashes with yours as you take in a sharp breath.

There was a line you knew you shouldn’t cross, but you were both ready to jump over it.

“Oh, fuck.” You mutter under his concentration on you.

“You’re so tempting to me.” He says, casually leaning across the table into your touch.

“Maddox, this is not fair.” You groan into him and he chuckles at your reaction. He leans closer in and his lips touch yours for only a moment.

“Fletcher.” He whispers into your mouth and you turn into Jell-O. He pulls back for a moment and watches you intently. He smiles and it radiates all around your body, encapsulating you in it.

“I’ll take your eight hundred dollar bet now.” You wink as you challenge him, clearly not wanting your time to end.

You flash him a wicked smile, standing up and leading him out to the hall as you find a vending machine near the casino entrance. You find a Reese, pop the change into the machine until you have enough, and pull it from where it dropped.

“Yeah right, there is no way you’d do something like that. You are reliable enough to carry around an epi-pen I’m assuming?” Maddox laughs, almost nervous in nature. You pull it out of your back pocket, wiggling it in the air for him to see before you pocket it again. “Wait, you’re not actually doing it, right? I was just joking. I don’t want to be the one to just meet you and then kill you. That would be a waste of a perfect person.” He asks again, his voice more concerned than it was before.

“Of course, I’m doing it. I may be reckless, but I’m not an idiot.” You mumble, thinking to yourself that they are the same thing though, honestly. You swing the door back and waltz into an empty back hall, shoving the candy in your mouth and for a moment you are savoring the peanut butter vibe that it has going on. “See?” You smirk. “Easy money.” You realize that Maddox’s face of horror doesn’t match your entertainment. This might have maybe been the part where you fucked up.