THE MAN WHOM I LOVED

ason, and had a five-year plan for her career as a marketing executive. Her friends affectionately

ed relationships with guys who couldn't handle her intensity, and her last boyfriend had

ting firm was going through a rough patc

nd Angela,She felt like the odd one out, stuck in a cycle of

burst into Coco's apartment, holding her phone aloft lik

marketing reports and empty coffee cups. "What is it this time? A blind date wi

is is different. It's a new dating app that matches y

ounds like a reci

It's not just about swiping through profiles. It's about finding

ng aside her repor

on her phone. "Okay, so first yo

sm slowly gave way to curiosity. Maybe, just maybe, this app coul

y" metric, Coco's doubts returned. "Wait, what? You want me

es! It's all about finding someone

o that level of unpredictability. But Angela's encouragement

questionnaire, answering questions about

, with a doubt look Coco turn to Angela and said "I don

he fun part. Just be honest. How do you

w restaurants, but only if they have goo

's a 'maybe'. What about tak

. "No way. I need at least a

vously. "I knew it. Yo

ed anxiously as the app processed her results. A few mi

!" Angela exclaimed,

ped a beat as she

onado of all things spontaneous. Looki

trepidation. "This is either going to be a disas

spirit, Co! Now go forth and

to Austin . She didn't want to come across as too uptight or boring, but she coul

Austin, so I have to ask... what's the

time I decided to take a road trip to the beach in the middle of the

middle of the night? That sounded like her worst nightmare. But

... adventurous. I'm more of a 'planner' my

en-minded? That's just code for 'I'm secr

lf feeling more and more at ease. Maybe, just maybe, this spon

carefree spirit was rubbing off on her, and she found herself wondering

n dropped a bombshell: "So, Coco, want to meet up for coffe

Already? She wasn't sure if she was ready for th

he couch, stretching her arms over her head. "Well, I'm going to leave you two lov

rateful for the distraction. "Ni

nytime, Co. Just don't forget to

ng to need it with tha

ing. "Hey, watch it! I can

door. "That's the spirit! Just remember,

home, leaving Coco to wonder wha

ned back to

ngers hovering over the keyboa

ds great. But don't expect

fear. What had she just gotten herself into?, she saw Austin's response

d a beat. What had

hts of Austin and their upcoming coffee date. She flo

s about to get a whole lot more interesting. Spontaneous adventures, artisti

her nightstand. She groggily reached over to silence

message read. "Sweet

eeling a flutt

.

ight streaming through her window. She stretched, feeling a sens

what the day would bring. Would be as charmi

ing up her hair, her ph

in before your date," Angela sa

aturedly. "Ange, I'm going

it! Austin seems like a total wild ca

'm also kind of excited. Maybe this is exactl

pontaneity is good for the soul. And if all else fail

or checking in, Ange. I'll fill

oor to meet Austin. She felt a sense of anticipati

there, sipping on a latte and sketching in a notebook. H

autiful," he said, st

in Austin's eclectic style - a bright yellow sh

e curious glances from other patrons. Austin seemed to be drawing attention

I thought that was just a

personality' was just a nice

r dress though. It'

your shirt. It's

ontaneous'. I do 'plan

you don't do 'breathing' bec

ght, you make a straight

id-back, you make a sloth lo

ate with someone who thinks

'm on a date with someone who

ortlessly from art to music to their shared love of adventure. Coco couldn't help but notice how naturally they fi