The evening was everything I had planned for—soft candlelight, a bottle of wine, and a quiet atmosphere for deep conversation. I had carefully chosen every detail, hoping this date would take things to the next level with Susan. But then, chaos barged in through the door—literally—and turned my world upside down.
This was our third date, and I was sure it was the one to solidify our connection. Susan and I had met on Tinder. Her profile had caught my eye with its mix of wit and charm. Our first two dates had been amazing, and during a long walk in the park last weekend, I’d felt something stir in my chest—a feeling that maybe, just maybe, this could be something real.
I reserved a cozy Italian restaurant tucked away from the city’s usual hustle. It was perfect: dim lighting, soft music, and an intimate vibe that almost whispered, “Share your secrets here.”
When Susan arrived, she looked breathtaking in a navy-blue dress that fit her like a dream. Her hair flowed over her shoulders, and when she smiled, it felt like the whole room softened. I thought to myself, This might actually work.
The waiter had just placed a basket of warm, freshly baked bread on the table when the front door of the restaurant slammed open. It startled me, but I tried to ignore it. That was until I heard a loud, familiar voice.
“Rob! Wow, what are the odds of seeing you here?”
I froze, my hand hovering mid-air, about to grab a breadstick. Slowly, I turned toward the sound. There, standing at the entrance in a bright, multicolored dress, was Linda from accounting. And she wasn’t alone. Three kids clung to her like little whirlwinds of chaos.
“Linda?” I said, my voice dripping with disbelief.
She strode toward our table with the confidence of someone who owned the place. Her kids trailed behind her—two boys and a toddler girl. They looked just as vibrant and lively as their mother, which was not exactly what I needed at that moment.
“You didn’t mention you’d be here tonight!” Linda exclaimed, completely ignoring the awkward tension she’d created.
Susan tilted her head and gave me a skeptical look. “Is this someone you know?”
“Uh, yeah,” I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady. “She’s a colleague from work.”
Before I could say anything else, Linda helped herself to the seat right next to me. Her kids immediately took over the rest of the table, giggling and reaching for breadsticks as if they were starved.
“It’s packed in here tonight,” Linda said, grabbing a breadstick herself. “We’ll just join you. You don’t mind, do you?”
Mind? Oh, I minded. I minded a lot.
Linda was a force of nature at work. A single mother juggling three kids from two different relationships, she was known for her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude. People admired her resilience, and she was undeniably attractive, but she also intimidated just about everyone. Including me.
But here, in this dimly lit restaurant where I was supposed to be impressing Susan, her energy felt more like a tornado than a breeze.
“Linda, what’s going on?” I asked through clenched teeth, my eyes darting to Susan, whose curiosity was quickly turning into frustration.
Linda gave me a knowing smile, as if I’d just asked the most ridiculous question in the world. Then, to my horror, she placed a hand on mine.
“You promised to watch the kids tonight,” she said in a loud, accusatory tone. “And here you are, out on a date?”
Susan’s eyes widened in shock. “Excuse me?” she said, her voice sharp enough to cut through glass.
“Linda!” I hissed, yanking my hand away. “What are you talking about?”
Linda ignored me and turned to Susan with a smug grin. “Oh, don’t mind me. I didn’t mean to interrupt your evening. But Rob’s been very… involved with us.”
“Wait, what?” Susan stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. Her face was a mix of disbelief and anger. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but clearly, you two have some things to figure out.”
“Susan, hold on!” I said, trying to stand, but Linda’s toddler wrapped her sticky hands around my leg like I was her new favorite toy.
Linda leaned back in her chair, completely unfazed by the drama she was causing. “You really should’ve told her the truth, Rob,” she said with a smirk. “It’s only fair.”
“Linda, stop it!” I snapped, my face burning as I realized the entire restaurant was now watching.
Susan grabbed her purse, her voice cold and clipped. “You know what? Good luck with… whatever this is.” And just like that, she was gone.
I stared at the door, wanting to chase after her, but the toddler on my leg wasn’t letting go. The room fell silent, except for Linda’s eldest, who piped up, “So… are we ordering pizza or what?”
I turned to Linda, my voice low and furious. “What the hell are you doing? You just ruined my date!”
Linda looked completely unbothered. “Oh, you’ll thank me later.”
“For what?” I threw my hands in the air. “For humiliating me?”
She pulled out her phone and casually scrolled for a moment. Then she turned it toward me. “Recognize her?”
It was a mugshot. Of Susan.
My jaw dropped. “What the…?”
“She’s a con artist,” Linda said, her voice suddenly serious. “My brother’s a cop. She scams men into relationships, gains their trust, and then wipes out their savings. When I saw your Instagram post about this date, I recognized her right away.”
I sank back into my chair, my mind spinning. “You’re joking.”
“I wish I was,” Linda said softly. “I tried calling you, but when you didn’t pick up, I had to act fast. I couldn’t let her get away with scamming you.”
The weight of her words hit me like a truck. I couldn’t believe it. Susan—charming, witty, and beautiful—had been playing me. And Linda, chaotic and unpredictable as ever, had just saved me from disaster.
The tension broke when Linda’s eldest son said, “So, can we get that pizza now?”
For the first time that night, I laughed. It was the kind of laugh that bubbles up when you’re too exhausted to do anything else.
“Linda,” I said, shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” she said with a grin, “you’re still here.”
Two years later, Linda and I are still together. Her kids are now my kids, and they’ve taught me more about love and chaos than I ever thought possible. Linda still claims I owe her a thank-you for that night.
And every single day, I give her one.
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