Only one second date

Your date with Carmen was probably the second best you'd been on so far, far better than the date with Aria. Only Rose's had been more fun. If you'd gone with her before, you might have chosen Carmen for another date. As it stood, though, Rose was your pick. More and more you texted with her, feeling a connection you'd lacked with the other girls you'd dated. Carmen came a close second, you felt it, but in the end, you knew you just might have to ask Rose out for a second date. Of course, there was still Julia.

Your date with her went well, although, like with the others, there was no spark. Yes, she was a lot of fun, yes she was cute, but you liked her more as a friend than a potential girlfriend.You resolved to hang out with her more after this, perhaps work out together or something.

'So that was all the dates' you messaged them after the last date.

'Who did you like the most?' Carmen asked.

'It's not a competition, but I bet it was me' Julia said.

'No comment' you sent.

'Boo!' Debie sent.

Then your phone vibrated again. It wasn't the group chat Dawn had called John's Harem. It was a private message from Rose.

'It was me, wasn't it?' she asked.

'Bingo' you sent her, grinning like an idiot as you got in your car.

'Don't tell anybody' she said, 'or there'll be hell to pay.' You buckled up and then saw she'd messaged you again. 'Did you sleep with Aria?' she asked.

'No' you answered honestly.

'Good. Now I won't think worse of you' Rose sent with a smiling emoji. You went to bed later feeling happy that Rose was content you hadn't slept with Aria.

'Good morning girls' you sent. Today you were the first one to reply.

'Hi!' Carmen said.

'Have you decided whether you want to go on another date?' Julia asked.

You smirked. 'Everyone I will want to go on another date with will get a message later' you sent. Of course there was only one person you wanted to go out with again.

'Please don't tease us!' Carmen sent. "Just tell us!"

'Fine. I'm going on another date with Rose' you told them.

'Aw! That sucks!' Julia sent.

'You said it' Debbie agreed.

'Sorry girls' you said.

'It's alright. I knew there wasn't a spark' Aria told you.

The next one was a personal message from Rose.

'Thanks' she said.

'No, thank you. I had a lot of fun and didn't even have to fake it' you replied.

Rose sent you a :p.

'When do we go on our second date?' she asked.

'Friday night work for you?' you wanted to know.

'It'll work just fine. See you then' she replied.

You smiled when you saw Rose come out of her apartment.

"Hi" you said as you opened the passenger side door for her.

"Hey there" she said, smiling at you and getting in. You sat down behind the steering wheel and drove off.

"So, just me, huh?" she asked.

"Actually, I initially also wanted to see Carmen again" you told her.

"Oh, really?" Rose wanted to know.

"Yeah, but I realised that you might get jealous" you said.

At this Rose snorted. "As if."

"Well, I'll have you know it was a close call but you were already on my mind before I went on a date with her" you told Rose.

"Oh, really now?" she asked, smiling broadly.

"You were" you confirmed.

"That's so sweet. Is that why you said no to Aria?" she asked.

"Yeah, it sort of is. You told me you wouldn't date me again if I slept with her and, well, you were already a contender for a second date" you told her.

"That is so good to hear" Rose replied. She smiled at you in silence for a few seconds. "So, are we dancing again?"