Read Online Love @ First Site by Jane Moore - Free Book Online
Authors: Jane Moore
Tags: Chic-lit
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go on a couple of dates to try it out. Including
Olivia
," I say pointedly.
"Olivia!" admonishes Mum. "Fancy encouraging your sister to resort to something so desperate."
An apologetic-looking Olivia opens her mouth to reply, but I power in first, propelled by sheer indignation.
"It's not desperate!" I say firmly. "It's entirely normal in this day and age."
Mum looks doubtful. It's clear she views the whole idea of women advertising for men immensely distasteful.
"But darling . . ." Her tone is conciliatory. "Surely the men on there are just pitiful creatures that no one else wants? The kind who live lonely lives, who could die in their little bedsits and not be found until they were eaten by maggots and a neighbor noticed the smell." She has always been one to overdramatize.
We are all momentarily stunned by this gory analogy, simply looking on silently, our noses faintly wrinkled at the thought. Dad pushes the remainder of his food to one side of the plate.
"I mean, Jess, sweetie, they could even be ax murderers," she plows on.
Enough already. I feel my back stiffen with annoyance. "Am
I
pitiful?" I demand.
"No, of course not," she replies in syrupy tones. Dad shakes his head reassuringly in support.
"Am
I
unwanted?"
"Of course not." She's tutting now for extra effect.
"An ax murderer then?" I scowl.
"Now you're just being silly."
"Well,
I'm
advertising on the Web site, so it figures there will be some nice, normal men as well."
Mum looks doubtful but says nothing, clearly knowing better than to interrupt such an impassioned protest.
"People go on the Internet because they're just too busy to socialize much," I continue. "Not because they're desperate saddos."
I stop speaking and look around the table for some moral support, but all I see are pitying expressions.
"I read an article the other day that said twenty thousand people
per month
are joining Internet dating sites. They can't all be psychos. In fact, I met a really great man on my first date." As soon as the words leave my mouth, I could kick myself.
"Really?" I can virtually see the bit clamped between my mother's teeth. "Jessie, that's wonderful news. Tell us more."
Even Olivia leans forward with an eager expression and I remember she knows absolutely nothing about this.
I shrug, biding time for a hasty backtrack. "Nothing much to tell really. He was very nice and we had a lovely time, but there wasn't a spark there so I doubt we'll be seeing each other again."
"Oh." Mum pushes out her bottom lip in disappointment. "That seems a bit of a hasty conclusion. After all, the spark might come later."
"She's right, you know." Olivia looks at me imploringly. "Michael and I didn't hit it off immediately. It took a good couple of dates before we really clicked."
I turn my shoulders slightly, so my face is obscured from the parentals, and pull a pained expression, silently urging her to shut up. She complies immediately, her mouth clamped in a firm line.
Dad rarely gets involved in our girly ding-dongs, usually preferring to sink behind a newspaper and let us all get on with it. But I can see his brow furrowing in anticipation of what he's about to say.
"Do be careful though, Jess." His face is deadly serious. "I know Mum exaggerates, but it's true that people can pretend to be anything they like behind the anonymity of a computer screen."
Yes, they can pretend to be single whilst they're probably married, I think forlornly. A depression descends again.
"Point taken, Dad. I'll be very careful, I promise. I'll meet them only in public places and they'll have no idea where I live." I smile reassuringly and stand up to start gathering the plates, hoping it will move the conversation on.
When I return from the kitchen, they all stop talking and look guilty. Clearly my unconventional social life is troubling them, but I'm not about to reopen the subject for yet more debate.
"So, Dad," I say breezily, "what's this invention you're so keen to show
Olivia
," I say pointedly.
"Olivia!" admonishes Mum. "Fancy encouraging your sister to resort to something so desperate."
An apologetic-looking Olivia opens her mouth to reply, but I power in first, propelled by sheer indignation.
"It's not desperate!" I say firmly. "It's entirely normal in this day and age."
Mum looks doubtful. It's clear she views the whole idea of women advertising for men immensely distasteful.
"But darling . . ." Her tone is conciliatory. "Surely the men on there are just pitiful creatures that no one else wants? The kind who live lonely lives, who could die in their little bedsits and not be found until they were eaten by maggots and a neighbor noticed the smell." She has always been one to overdramatize.
We are all momentarily stunned by this gory analogy, simply looking on silently, our noses faintly wrinkled at the thought. Dad pushes the remainder of his food to one side of the plate.
"I mean, Jess, sweetie, they could even be ax murderers," she plows on.
Enough already. I feel my back stiffen with annoyance. "Am
I
pitiful?" I demand.
"No, of course not," she replies in syrupy tones. Dad shakes his head reassuringly in support.
"Am
I
unwanted?"
"Of course not." She's tutting now for extra effect.
"An ax murderer then?" I scowl.
"Now you're just being silly."
"Well,
I'm
advertising on the Web site, so it figures there will be some nice, normal men as well."
Mum looks doubtful but says nothing, clearly knowing better than to interrupt such an impassioned protest.
"People go on the Internet because they're just too busy to socialize much," I continue. "Not because they're desperate saddos."
I stop speaking and look around the table for some moral support, but all I see are pitying expressions.
"I read an article the other day that said twenty thousand people
per month
are joining Internet dating sites. They can't all be psychos. In fact, I met a really great man on my first date." As soon as the words leave my mouth, I could kick myself.
"Really?" I can virtually see the bit clamped between my mother's teeth. "Jessie, that's wonderful news. Tell us more."
Even Olivia leans forward with an eager expression and I remember she knows absolutely nothing about this.
I shrug, biding time for a hasty backtrack. "Nothing much to tell really. He was very nice and we had a lovely time, but there wasn't a spark there so I doubt we'll be seeing each other again."
"Oh." Mum pushes out her bottom lip in disappointment. "That seems a bit of a hasty conclusion. After all, the spark might come later."
"She's right, you know." Olivia looks at me imploringly. "Michael and I didn't hit it off immediately. It took a good couple of dates before we really clicked."
I turn my shoulders slightly, so my face is obscured from the parentals, and pull a pained expression, silently urging her to shut up. She complies immediately, her mouth clamped in a firm line.
Dad rarely gets involved in our girly ding-dongs, usually preferring to sink behind a newspaper and let us all get on with it. But I can see his brow furrowing in anticipation of what he's about to say.
"Do be careful though, Jess." His face is deadly serious. "I know Mum exaggerates, but it's true that people can pretend to be anything they like behind the anonymity of a computer screen."
Yes, they can pretend to be single whilst they're probably married, I think forlornly. A depression descends again.
"Point taken, Dad. I'll be very careful, I promise. I'll meet them only in public places and they'll have no idea where I live." I smile reassuringly and stand up to start gathering the plates, hoping it will move the conversation on.
When I return from the kitchen, they all stop talking and look guilty. Clearly my unconventional social life is troubling them, but I'm not about to reopen the subject for yet more debate.
"So, Dad," I say breezily, "what's this invention you're so keen to show
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