I’d decided it was time to settle down (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Happy belated birthday!’ I exclaimed, clinking pint glasses with my date, Taylor*.
He’d just told me that he was a Leo, which I deemed the perfect opportunity to broach the subject of age.
‘I’m a Libra.’ I started. ‘My birthday’s coming up in October and I’m freaking out because I’ll be turning 30.’
I paused for dramatic effect, but he simply smiled. ‘Thirty is no age.’ His face radiated warmth and I felt relieved.
For months now I’d been dreading the big 3-0, plagued by thoughts like ‘Should I freeze my eggs?’ and ‘Should I get Botox? ’
‘Ooh, almost 30!’ friends and strangers would yell when I revealed that I was 29, which only fed into my ageing anxiety.
Mostly though, I’d decided it was time to settle down.
I’d enjoyed my fair share of singledom flings, long-term relationships, and heartbreaks scattered throughout my twenties, but now I was ready to get serious.
And that’s how I’d found myself on a date with Taylor.
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As someone who had met all their exes in real life, I had been a late bloomer with dating apps.
Luckily, London offers a wealth of choice. I set my criteria – older than me and open to marriage and children – and off I went swiping.
I dedicated as much time and energy to dating as I did with my career, my band, and my social life.
Surely, a 24-year-old wasn’t ready to settle down?
I made a point of going on three first dates a week. I fancied some guys who didn’t fancy me and became friends with several after we mutually realised romance wasn’t our destiny.
Of course, I also gently turned down men I didn’t fancy and blocked those who became weird – perhaps the strangest interaction I had was with one who blasted me with photos of his house rabbit and pretended to be said rabbit.
I also hit on people in pubs and at gigs, and I spread the word with my friends asking them to set me up.
That’s when my friend, Lily, sent me a photo of her single friend, Taylor. ‘You’ll really like him; you guys have a weird amount in common. And you both have luscious hair!’ She beamed.
I was attracted to his looks and didn’t press for more information. I assumed he was our age.
I gave Lily the green light and half an hour later, Taylor messaged me. He dove straight into my availability for a date; there was no idle small talk. And it wasn’t long before he took the initiative to arrange a date in Camden for the following night.
His go-getting approach was already very attractive to me and, when I arrived at the bar, and I saw that he was gorgeous in the flesh, I knew we were off …read more
Source:: Metro
