Quote 1
He started to pour more wine into her glass. “Rick, it’s been fascinating hearing about your accomplishments,” she said, deciding to give it one last try. “But I’d love to hear more about who you are as a person—what makes you tick, what drives you beyond these material achievements.”

“Uh…” he hesitated, clearly unprepared for such introspection. “I guess I just love the thrill of success, you know? The pursuit of excellence in all that I do.”

And there we have it—back to square one.

Margot’s eyes widened as she watched Rick, his mouth moving animatedly while recounting yet another tale of success. She noticed how the candlelight flickered across his slicked-back hair, casting shadows that seemed to emphasize his self-absorption.

“Rick,” Margot interjected with a tight-lipped smile, “I must say, your life is like a never-ending highlight reel. You should consider carrying around a billboard with all your accomplishments on it—you know, just to save time.”

“Ha!” he laughed, missing the sarcasm completely. “That’s not a bad idea, actually. But you know, I prefer to let my actions speak for themselves.”

Margot stifled a groan and took a really long sip of her wine, feeling the frustration bubble within her. She had given him every opportunity to reveal a more genuine side, but it seemed the universe was determined to test her patience.

Okay, Margot, time for some tough love. Maybe he just needs a little nudge in the right direction. 

Leaning forward and catching his gaze, she said, “You’ve clearly led an impressive life, but I’m curious. Have you ever considered that there might be more to a person than their achievements?”

He blinked at her, seeming genuinely puzzled by the concept. “Well, sure, Margot. But isn’t that what makes us interesting? Our successes, our victories? What else is there?”

Margot sighed, realizing that this red flag was flapping wildly in the wind and she’d been ignoring it. Rick wasn’t taking any social cues from her blatant hints, and it dawned on her that he might not be genuinely interested in getting to know her at all. Or, for that matter, letting her know him. 

“Margot?” Rick prompted, his eyebrows raised in anticipation of her response.

“I think what truly makes a person interesting is their ability to connect with others, Rick,” she began carefully, “To genuinely listen and engage with someone beyond just listing their accomplishments. Also, successes are great, but it’s the failures we’ve overcome that make a life worth hearing about. The shared journey.”

“Ah.” He looked slightly disarmed, but quickly recovered. “Well, Margot, surely you must realize that success is the result of failure. In that, I have shared my journey with you.” 

When she didn’t respond, he shifted gears. “Okay, I am sure you have some fascinating stories of your own. Tell me, what’s your greatest achievement?”

Margot stared at him for a moment, realizing that, despite her best efforts, Rick was simply incapable of grasping the concept of genuine connection. With a sad smile, she replied, “My greatest achievement, Rick? Learning when it’s time to walk away.” With that, she placed her napkin over her plate, reached into her purse, laid a hundred-dollar bill onto the table, stood up, and left the restaurant.

 

Quote 2
Date seven, I’m setting a record.

The clink of silverware against porcelain filled the air as Margot and Deek dined on fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits at a cozy southern restaurant. The moment he reached for his phone, she put her fork gently on her plate.

“Deek,” Margot began, her voice soft, “we’ve been having such a wonderful time together recently, and I feel like we’re really connecting. But, there’s something I’ve noticed and I think it’s important that we talk about it.”

“Of course, Margot,” Deek replied, setting down his phone and giving her his undivided attention. “What’s on your mind?”

She hesitated, knowing the delicacy of the topic at hand. “It’s about your mother. You mention her quite often, and I notice she text you often a well. I guess, well…”

“Yes?”

Spit it out Margot.

“I’m just curious about how much influence she has in your life.”

Deek chuckled, swirling the ice cubes in his glass. “A good bit, I’m not going to lie. My mother has always been… a significant presence.”

Margot couldn’t help but smile at his choice of words. Significant presence, to say the least.

“Can you elaborate?” she asked gently, hoping to coax him into opening up more.

Deek sighed, his gaze drifting towards the flickering candle on their table. “I suppose I’ve always sought her validation, even when it wasn’t necessarily healthy for me. My mother has never been one to mince words or hold back her opinions, and it’s been hard not to let them dictate my choices.”

Okay, well that’s honest. Good start… I think. 

“Did she like your first wife?” Margot inquired, her heart pounding in her chest as she awaited his response. “Or however many you’ve had.”

“I’ve never been married,” he said it like it was a badge of honor.

Beware of fifty-year-old men who have never… I repeat, never… been married.

“But truth be told, she’s never approved of many of the women I’ve dated.” Deek shook his head, his eyes meeting Margot’s. “I’m working on breaking free from that pattern, and I want to try to build a healthy relationship with you.”

At fifty? You are… working… on breaking free from your mother… at fifty?

 

Quote 3
As Margot replayed the video for the umpteenth time that day, she pondered the potential impact of a relationship with Vaughn on her own life. Unable to suppress a smile as she watched him drumming away. 

Can I even handle the long-distance situation?

“Mom, are you okay?” Callie, asked, poking her head into the office. “You’ve been staring at your phone all day.”

Margot sighed, her heart heavy with the weight of her conflicting emotions. “I’m fine, sweetheart,” she lied, unwilling to burden her daughter with her romantic dilemmas. “Just thinking.”

As the day wore on, Margot found herself replaying the video over and over again, her thoughts consumed by the mesmerizing sight of Vaughn on stage. She knew she should be focusing on work—after all, there were contracts and locations to finalize, but every time she tried to concentrate, her mind wandered back to the magnetic pull of his performance.

She dipped into Callie’s office later that day. “Maybe I should just go see him for the weekend? Get it out of my system,” her heart pounding with equal parts excitement and fear. 

“Is that what you want to do?” Callie asked.

“I truly don’t know. I think I do, but I also think what if he’s not, you know, interested in me that way? I mean, we really are just friends. Worse, what if this is just some kind of game he plays with other women?”

“Well,” Callie stood up from behind her desk and made her way to her mom, “maybe that’s a conversation you should have with him.”

As Margot closed the door behind her, she took a moment to gather her thoughts, pushing aside her feelings for Vaughn, at least for now. But as she picked up the phone to discuss business, she couldn’t help but feel that her life had been irrevocably changed, leaving her teetering on the edge of a decision that would either bring her unimaginable happiness or shatter her heart into a million pieces.

I’m too old for this.

And yet, despite the uncertainty that lay ahead, Margot knew that she wouldn’t trade the thrill of getting to know Vaughn for anything in the world.

 

Quote 4
Susie reached across the table, her hand warm and reassuring on Margot’s. “Oh, honey. I totally understand where you’re coming from. Love is risky, there’s no denying that. But you know what they say: ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained.’”

Margot rolled her eyes. Leave it to Susie to quote a cliché in a moment like this. “Easier said than done, my friend.”

“True,” Susie conceded, then leaned back in her chair. “But let me tell you about the time I decided to take a risk in the name of love. Remember that guy I dated in college, the one who wanted to be a professional mime?”

“Ugh, yes,” Margot groaned, cringing at the memory. “How could I forget?”

“Exactly,” Susie laughed. “Well, I was terrified to get involved with him. I mean, who falls in love with a mime? But I took a chance, and even though it didn’t last, I learned so much about myself in the process. Like how I can’t stand men who wear too much makeup or communicate solely through exaggerated gestures.”

Margot laughed. “Or how you have a low tolerance for invisible walls,” Margot snorted, feeling a little lighter as she recalled Susie’s ex, trapped in a never-ending box of his own making.

“Exactly,” Susie grinned. “The point is, taking risks can lead to growth and self-discovery, even if the outcome isn’t what we hoped for.”

Margot sighed, knowing deep down that Susie was right. If she wanted to find love again, she had to be willing to take a leap of faith, even if it meant potentially getting hurt. Hey, at least Vaughn isn’t a mime, she thought, a small smile creeping onto her face.

“Okay, I get it,” Margot conceded. “But promise me one thing, Susie.”

“Anything, darling.” Susie reached over to give her friend’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know it’s scary to put yourself out there again, but you’re one of the strongest people I know. If anyone deserves happiness, it’s you. Besides, we’re in this together. We’ve got each other’s backs.”

“Like Thelma and Louise?” Margot suggested, her voice wavering between laughter and tears.

“Exactly,” Susie agreed, grinning. “Minus the whole driving-off-a-cliff thing, of course.”