A 'meet-cute' in a coffee shop

Living for those moments when life resembles a movie.

Like everyone my age, I fucking hate dating apps. I also have pretty much exhausted any friends of friends with any sort of dating potential, and don’t love the idea of getting with someone on a night out, which leaves me in a tight spot.

Enter, the ‘meet cute’—defined by google as an amusing or charming first encounter between two characters that leads to the development of a romantic relationship between them. It’s the kind of story you make up if you and your partner met on a dating app to placate Grandma.

Life has a way of knowing what you need, exactly at the right time. For me, at that moment, it was an ego boost, and a quick shag. It came to me in the form of an Irish man with extreme confidence and ADHD tendencies, who hit on me in a coffee shop.

It was nearing the end of the school term. The only way I could face the idea of doing my last bit of marking was to take it to a cute coffee shop and do it there. I headed out in my messy bun and joggers, and made my way diligently through my frankly disappointing year 10 mock exam papers. As I worked, I was vaguely aware of two guys my age at a nearby table. When I stood up to go, one of them stopped me.

“Can I just ask, primary or secondary?”

I looked at the guy who stopped me. He was cute. I smiled.

“Secondary. Do you teach also?”

I can’t remember the details of our conversation. I do remember, however, the way he whipped out his phone for me to enter my number with a well-practiced confidence.

“Let’s continue this conversation later.”

The cynic in me thought ‘hmm he’s done that before’ (I asked him and he had, and he denied it, but everyone knows men can’t be trusted). Still, I practically skipped back down the road to my house to recount the tale to my housemates in a state of mild elation. The dating apps could never compete with the dopamine hit of a real-life encounter with a man who thought I looked hot while doing my marking.

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Have you ever had an experience like this? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Also let me know if you’d like a part 2 of this story. <3

Best,

E