The evening was meant to be perfect—everything carefully planned down to the last detail. Candlelight flickered gently on the table, a bottle of red wine stood ready, and I’d picked a cozy little Italian restaurant that felt like a hidden gem. Tonight was going to be special, a chance to connect with Susan on a deeper level.
This was our third date, the one that could make or break things. We’d met on Tinder, where her profile was a mix of sharp humor and effortless charm. After two great dates—one at a trendy café and another walking through a park as we laughed and shared stories—I was ready to take things up a notch.
Susan arrived right on time, wearing a navy-blue dress that hugged her figure perfectly. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and when she smiled at me, I felt a spark of hope. This could really go somewhere, I thought.
The waiter brought us a basket of warm, freshly baked bread just as we started talking. The evening was off to a great start. But then, the restaurant door slammed open, and the sound pulled my attention away from Susan.
At first, I tried to ignore it. But then came a voice I recognized all too well:
“Rob! What are the odds of running into you here?”
I froze with a breadstick halfway to my mouth. There, standing at the entrance, was Linda from accounting. She wore a brightly patterned dress that was loud enough to compete with her energy. But the real problem wasn’t her dress. It was the three kids at her side, buzzing with uncontained excitement.
“Linda?” I managed, my voice tight with surprise.
She strode toward me with the confidence of someone who’d just found a long-lost friend, her children tagging along behind her like tiny hurricanes. “You didn’t tell me you’d be here!” she said, as if this was a casual catch-up.
Susan’s eyes narrowed as she glanced between Linda and me. “Is this someone you know?” she asked, her tone cool but curious.
“She’s a coworker,” I explained quickly, forcing a smile.
Linda, however, had no intention of making a quiet exit. Without asking, she pulled out a chair and plopped herself down at our table. “It’s so packed in here tonight,” she said cheerfully. “We’ll just sit with you. Hope you don’t mind!”
Oh, I minded. I minded a lot.
Her three kids swarmed the table, grabbing breadsticks and making themselves at home. One started poking at the centerpiece candle, another reached for the butter dish, and the youngest—a toddler—climbed onto my lap with sticky hands.
“Linda,” I hissed through gritted teeth, “what’s going on?”
She gave me a sunny smile, completely unfazed. “You promised to help out tonight, remember?” she said loudly, her tone pointed.
Susan’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?” she said, her voice sharp now.
“I didn’t promise anything!” I protested, my face burning with embarrassment.
“Oh, don’t mind me,” Linda said with a dramatic wave of her hand. “I’m sure Rob didn’t mean to keep secrets. He’s been a big part of our lives.”
Susan’s chair scraped loudly against the floor as she stood. Her expression was a mix of shock and fury. “I don’t know what kind of drama this is, but clearly, you two have things to work out,” she said, grabbing her purse.
“Wait, Susan!” I pleaded, but before I could explain, Linda cut in with a smirk.
“You really should’ve been honest with her, Rob,” she said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.
“Linda, stop it!” I snapped, feeling the weight of every other diner’s eyes on me.
Susan didn’t wait. “Good luck with whatever this is,” she said coldly before storming out of the restaurant.
I tried to follow her, but Linda’s toddler clung to my leg like a koala, refusing to let go. The entire room seemed to hold its breath.
“Linda, what are you doing?” I demanded in a harsh whisper. “You just ruined my date!”
She leaned back in her chair, completely unfazed. “You should be thanking me,” she said with a sly smile.
“Thanking you?” I repeated, incredulous. “For what? Publicly humiliating me?”
Linda casually pulled out her phone and tapped on the screen. “No, Rob. For saving you.”
I stared at her, baffled. “Saving me from what?”
She held up her phone, showing me a photo of Susan. At first, I didn’t understand. Then Linda zoomed in, revealing a mugshot.
“Recognize her?” Linda asked, her tone serious now.
“What is this?” I asked, my stomach sinking.
“That’s Susan,” Linda said. “She’s wanted for fraud. My brother’s a cop, and he showed me this picture yesterday. She scams people—men, specifically—gets them to trust her, and then wipes out their bank accounts.”
I felt like the floor had dropped out from under me. “You’re kidding,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I wish I was,” Linda replied. “When I saw your Instagram post about tonight, I knew I had to stop you. I tried calling, but you didn’t pick up.”
The realization hit me like a freight train. Susan wasn’t just charming—she was dangerous.
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” I asked, feeling equal parts grateful and furious.
Linda shrugged. “I panicked. I couldn’t risk her slipping away before the cops could act.”
Her eldest child interrupted, tapping impatiently on the table. “Can we eat now?”
Despite everything, a laugh burst out of me. It was ridiculous—chaotic—but also oddly funny.
Linda grinned. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Shaking my head, I let out a long sigh. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” she said with a wink, “you’re not broke, thanks to me.”
I looked at her properly for the first time—really looked. Her determination, her fierce protectiveness, and even her chaotic energy—it all felt different now.
“Linda,” I said, a small smile creeping onto my face, “can I at least buy you and the kids dinner?”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “After everything I just pulled?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I think you’ve earned it.”
Her eldest lit up. “Pizza!”
Linda laughed, her expression softening. “Alright, Rob. But dessert’s on you.”
“Deal,” I said, feeling a strange sense of relief.
That night marked the beginning of something unexpected. Two years later, Linda and I are inseparable. I’ve adopted her kids, and they’ve taught me what love really means.
And Linda? She still insists I owe her a thank-you.
Every day, I make sure to give her one.
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