I clutched my purse tighter as I looked around the crowded bar. Everyone inside was having the time of their life. Well, it was either that, or they were preparing to get laid tonight. After all, it was Valentine's Day.

I looked down on my phone again and stared at the last couple of messages I had sent.

Still no reply.

I typed another message. This time, slightly less polite. It was borderline impolite, to be honest. I asked where the heck he is. He should be here. He should've been here twenty minutes ago.

I grabbed my bottle of beer—the light kind—and took a sip. I put it back on the table and looked at the mouth of the bottle and found no lipstick stains.

I didn't wear a transfer-proof lipstick only to get stood up.

I wanted to dial his number, but I wasn't the type of person who calls. I didn't even like picking up calls. I was more of a text or chat kind of person.

I made a sweeping glance around me and felt more disappointed. I was surrounded by couples and groups of friends having a good time. I should've listened to Fiona. I shouldn't have come here. She had told me that my friend, Denise, was terrible at setting up blind dates.

"Hi," I heard a guy said, interrupting me from my reverie.

I lifted my chin up and had to take a double look at him. I was expecting a guy in tattered jeans paired with a short-sleeved shirt. Denise said my date looks like a bad boy. The guy in front of me wasn't anything like a bad boy. He looked like the guy you would introduce to your parents with his nice tee, brushed-up hair, and charming dimple on his cheek.

"Hi?"

"Are you waiting for someone?" he asked.

"Do I know you? Wait, are you Ansel?" I asked, but not keeping my hopes too high.

"Oh, you're on a blind date..." he pursed his lips and looked behind him.

My phone vibrated in my hand and I took a glance. It was Denise, asking if Ansel has arrived.

No girl.

"I think it's not a good time right now considering the person you're waiting for probably bailed on you, and also I'm not really good at this."

I watched him shift on his heels.

"My name is Jeff, by the way."

"Elise," I responded. I didn't even know why I gave him my real name.

"I'm hanging out with my friends. Do you want to join us?" he asked, a bit hesitantly. "Some of them are girls. Don't worry."

"I'll pass. I'm gonna wait here for a while. But, thank you."

I didn't know why I was being so polite to this handsome stranger.

"Okay. Happy Valentine's. Enjoy your night, Elise," he mumbled and walked away. I watched where he was going to see if his friends seem to be good company for tonight but I tore my eyes away from him when my phone rang.

Denise.

"No, Denise, he isn't here yet," I said, anticipating her question.

"I'm sorry. He texted me and told me he's on his way."

"On his way to where? You know what? Never mind. I won't wait for him," I hissed and hang up before she could say another word.

I took a few swigs from my half-empty bottle of beer. Then I sent another text to Ansel.

You can get lost, jerk. I don't want to see your face tonight. Or ever.

"Hi," I heard another guy said.

I spun on my heels and looked up. I saw a guy with disheveled, highlighted hair. He was wearing a maroon hoodie and knee-ripped jeans. This could be Ansel, but Denise had told me yesterday that the dude she set me up with is sporting a man bun.

"Hi," I nodded and went back to my phone. "If your name isn't Ansel, I'm not interested."

"I'm Ansel."

I tilted my head at him so fast, it hurt my neck. He grinned at me in response.

"Just kidding. I noticed that you were all by yourself—"

"Excuse me," I cut him off. "Do I know you?"

He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off again by saying, "Right. I do not know you, you probably don't know me, and I don't want to get to know you, so back off."

"Whoa..." he chuckled. "Obviously someone's in a bad mood."

I glared at him, but he smiled at me in return.

"Look, I was just sitting over there looking around and judging people..." he pointed to the direction of an empty table. "Then I saw you here all alone. And I thought, 'What kind of asshole stood up a pretty girl like her?'."

A small smile played on my lips.

"That asshole is my ex."

"You're waiting for your ex here?" he gestured around the bar.

"He wasn't technically my ex ten seconds ago."

"Oh, yeah? Something tells me that you're not waiting for your boyfriend."

I let out an exasperated sigh before replying, "Fine. I'm on a blind date but I got stood up."

"Sorry to hear that," he sounded apologetic. He cleared his throat as if mustering for some courage. "Normally, this is the part wherein I would introduce myself but you said so yourself that you don't want to get to know me..."

I looked past him, towards the empty table.

"I see I'm not the only one alone tonight because if you were with someone, you wouldn't be wasting your time talking to me."

He smirked. "I wouldn't consider talking to you a waste of time."

I groaned. I wanted to have a good time, not get hit on by random guys in this bar.

"You wouldn't believe it but I came here alone," he added.

"You came alone in a bar hosting Valentine's party wherein you most likely need a date?"

He chuckled. "I know it's hard to believe. I planned this whole night but this girl broke up with me two weeks ago. I decided to push through thinking that maybe I would meet someone who needs my help, and I could swoop in and save her Valentine's."

I glanced at my phone again. There was still no reply. A crazy idea popped into my mind. Maybe, it wasn't so bad to talk to this guy. After all, I came here for a blind date.

"Well, congratulations 'cause you just found your effing damsel in distress."

"I'm Jake," he extended his right hand, and I just stared at it.

"I'm Rox," I lied. "I don't like shaking hands with strangers, but I'll make you, my exception."

"Honored to be an exception," he replied as we shook hands.

I grabbed my purse from the table, ready to leave.

"Leaving already?"

"I don't have any reason to stay. I don't have a date."

"I can give you a reason."

I placed my purse on the table and rested my hand on my hip as I gave him a demanding look.

"Fine. Give me a reason to—"

The event's host walked up on stage and announced that there was only a minute left before tonight's highlight. She asked the girls if they at least applied some ChapStick.

Girl, I even applied a no smudge, transfer-proof lipstick.

I tore my eyes away from the host to look at Jake. He was scanning the room as if looking for someone.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing. I was going to say that leaving is no longer an option. We can stay and watch everyone kiss or we can join the party. But you know what? Let's get out of here."

"And why would I come with you?" I demanded.

"I'm not forcing you. If you want to stay, it's fine with me. But I'm out of here. I don't want to watch the people around me kiss."

The host started the countdown and everyone joined in.

Ten...nine...

"Excuse me? You were the one who stopped me from leaving. Now I feel we're trapped."

Eight...seven...

"I know, but I changed my mind and I want to leave," he insisted.

Six...five...

"I guess it's too late to leave," I yelled as the countdown grew louder.

Jake groaned, looking disappointed that he had to watch the couples around us kiss all at the same time.

Four...three...

"I have an idea," I muttered and walked towards him.

Two...one...

I wrapped my arms around his neck and felt his hand on the small of my back as he gently pulled me towards him. His lips touched mine, and I closed my eyes. His lips were surprisingly soft against mine, and I pulled him in closer to me and kissed him back a little harder. I felt his other hand gently touched the other side of my waist, and he was suddenly hugging me.

Wow, I'm kissing a total stranger, I thought.

My younger sister, Emily, told me I was reckless and impulsive. My best friend and roommate, Fiona, told me that I was a fun and adventurous girl. So far, this was the most impulsive and adventurous thing I ever did in my whole life.

Slowly, I pulled back. But we remained to hold on to each other. I bit my lower lip as I looked him in the eye.

His lips curled up to one side. "I wasn't expecting to be kissed tonight. Let alone by a gorgeous girl like you."

"Don't feel so proud. You weren't my first."

He smiled, amused.

"Well, that was better than I thought it would be," I whispered. My face was merely an inch away from his, I could easily lean in for another round. I could see in my peripheral vision that the other couples were still kissing.

"I like to keep my girls satisfied."

"Yeah, it didn't feel like your first kiss," I mumbled, and he shook his head.

"Job well done," I giggled, and slowly slid my hands down his chest. His hoodie was thick but I bet a toned body was hiding underneath it. He let go of me and ran his hand through his messy hair.

God, his hair looks so soft, I want to run my fingers through it.

The event's host spoke and her voice rang through the speakers. Everyone applauded and cheered. She announced that they would be starting a game in a few minutes.

Too bad I'm not sticking around for another minute.

"I really want to go now," I said as I took my purse from the table.

"Whoa...so that's it?"

"I thought you want to get out of here?" I asked. "Come on, let's go."

He smirked and nodded his head. Then he gestured his hand and mumbled, "After you."

Did I just kiss a hot stranger and invite him to come with me?