"Abbi?"

I groan and roll over. Who is banging on my door?

"What?" I grumble, pulling open the door, I'm met with a frantic Preston.

"Whoa, were you sleeping?" He looks over my obviously tired appearance.

"Yes, I got up at four to collect water samples at the beach. I'm just having a nap."

"Oh, sorry, man. Listen, I need a huge favor!"

"Right now?"

"In three hours. I met the one, man. I swear, I'm going to marry this girl."

I can't even hold my laughter back until he finishes speaking. "Oh, really?"

"Yes, look... she's perfect... she's the one!"

"Like the nurse, or the bartender at Joe's, or the kindergarten teach-"

"I know, I know, but she's different. She's..."

"The one," My eyes roll on instinct. "What do you need from me?"

"Her older sister is visiting from New York. She's a Psych Ph.D. candidate at NYU. Please, please, please, come on a double date with me. She won't go unless there is someone there for her sister. You're smart and not a total asshole. You're the only person I can ask..."

"You can't just wait until her sister returns to school?" I don't want to do this...

"No. I need to see her tonight... and tomorrow... and every day for the rest of my life!"

"Fuck. If I do this, you owe me."

"Anything... everything! Say the word and it's yours!" He pulls me into a hug.

"Yeah, yeah, get off me," I shrug him off and walk inside, falling down onto my bed. "Where are we going?"

"Toro, it's a tapas place downtown."

"Yeah, I know it..." I roll over, covering my face with my pillow. "Are we meeting there?"

"Yes, I will pick you up at six."

"I'll be ready," I grumble.

"Thank you, seriously. I owe you!" He slips out of my apartment and closes the door.

So much for a quiet night in.

Six rolls around much faster than I had hoped it would. When I get his text to let me know they are downstairs, I quickly throw on a jacket and head down.

As I slide into the backseat the woman I'm seated with is scowling at me. Wonderful.

"Hey," I nod awkwardly.

"This is Abbi," Preston quickly jumps in. "This is Sarah," he points to my date. "And this is Jen."

"Sarah," I hold my hand out to her.

She takes my hand and her angry expression softens slightly. "Nice to meet you."

"You, too."

"Preston tells me you're a Ph.D. candidate." Her brow quirks, it looks like she's studying me.

"I am, Climatology. And you're a Psychology candidate, right?"

"I am." She's still studying me. "Where are you from in Australia?"

"Gold Coast."

She hums and crosses her arms, "when was the last time you were in a relationship, Abbi?"

"Whoa, bit soon for that, isn't it?" I chuckle as Preston looks panicked in the rearview mirror. Sarah pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs, clearly, she was expecting this.

"Are you afraid to answer the question?"

"Not afraid, no. I'm not sure I would say that I've ever really been in a relationship. I dated girls in high school but can you really count that?"

"You've never dated anyone?" This seems to really spark her interest.

"Nope."

For the thirty minutes, we spend stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, she continues to analyze me and my behaviors. She's ruled out that I'm a narcissist or that I'm so insecure that I use women to feel better about myself.

"You're not opposed to relationships, or against monogamy but you haven't had a real girlfriend? It doesn't make sense..." she picks apart every answer I give her.

"You can dig all night long, you're not going to find anything. I'm not tragically broken, I just haven't settled down. I put all of my energy into school, I don't have time to commit toward a relationship."

She hums again as Preston pulls the car to a stop. As we step out onto the busy street Jen gives me an apologetic look on behalf of her sister.

I'm an open book, I have nothing to hide, especially from an inquisitive psychology student who is hellbent on finding my hidden trauma.

"Let's look at this from a different angle," we've barely taken our seats and she begins again. "How would you describe yourself in regards to your treatment of women?"

"I'm honest with women. I've never lied my way into bed with anyone, ever. I don't give false expectations for what I want and what kind of relationship you will get with me."

"And what kind of relationship is that?"

"A mutually beneficial sexual relationship, and friendship if that's what she's looking for. I don't have proper time to be a boyfriend, so that's not on the table."

This answer seems to upset her. "So you're a one-night stand kind of guy... typical."

"No, I've actually never had a one-night stand. Not wanting a girlfriend doesn't inherently mean I'm using women for sex. I love sex but it has to be mutual and my partner has to know that it likely won't lead to anything beyond that."

She's almost pouting as she looks over the menu. Preston and Jen whisper to one another quietly until we place our orders then Sarah suddenly gasps.

"You don't want to settle down because you're afraid that as soon as you do someone better will come along!" She looks proud of herself.

"Oh my god, Jen. Please!" Sarah looks mortified.

"I don't think that's it," I'm trying my hardest not to laugh at her. "I know that psychology is on your mind all the time but you don't need to waste your time analyzing me. I'm happy with my life and I don't have a girlfriend because I don't want one right now. If I meet the right one, I'll settle down."

Humming again, she conveys a kind of acknowledgment that she knows me better than I do. She thinks she's got me pegged.

"Here," she hands me a business card. "When you need someone to talk to, I would love for you to reach out."

"Jesus Christ," Preston chuckles and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"When I realize the error of my ways, I'll call you." I slip the card into my wallet.

"I look forward to hearing from you." She looks pleased with herself.

"Look!" Jen attempts to change the subject, "our food is here!"