Chapter 83
**Tom**
I hesitated, weighing my options. Honesty won out. "To be frank, it was more of a 'strongly encouraged' situation. My dad's been on my case about settling down, and I think he's worried I'll end up a lonely old professor with nothing but books for company."
"Ah, the classic parental worry. I'm familiar with that tune."
I nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief at her understanding. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not against marriage. It's just... I always thought it would happen naturally, you know? Fall in love, sweep someone off their feet, that whole rom-com scenario. Not... this."
"I feel exactly the same way. To tell you the truth, I've been on more of these blind dates than I care to admit. I always meet the guy, chat for a bit, then politely reject him. I'm just not ready for marriage, and I have no idea how to break that to my father without crushing his hopes and dreams."
"I'm glad I'm not the only one being marched to the altar against my will. It's like our parents think we're in a race to see who can get hitched first."
"Oh, absolutely," Veronica agreed, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "I half expect my father to start handing out 'My Daughter Is Single' business cards to every eligible bachelor he meets."
"Hey, at least that would save us the trouble of these awkward first conversations," I quipped. "We could just exchange cards and be done with it."
She laughed. "You know, Thomas, I have to say, this is probably the most enjoyable blind date I've been on. It's refreshing to meet someone who's not trying to impress me with their stock portfolio or latest yacht purchase."
"I left my yacht at home today. Didn't want to come on too strong, you know?"
"How considerate of you," she teased. "So, how many of these little parental matchmaking sessions have you endured?"
I pretended to count on my fingers, furrowing my brow in mock concentration. "Let's see... carry the one... divide by pi... This would be number eight, I believe. How about you?"
"Amateur," she scoffed playfully. "This is only my fifth. I've got to step up my game if I want to catch up to your impressive tally."
"Oh, it's not a competition," I assured her. "Though if it were, I'd definitely be winning. Or losing, depending on how you look at it."
Our laughter was interrupted by the arrival of our wine. As the waiter poured, Veronica fixed me with a curious gaze. "So, Thomas, I have to ask. Why did you become a professor instead of joining the family business? Don't get me wrong, teaching is noble, but surely there's more money in whatever your father does?"
I took a sip of wine, savoring the rich flavor as I considered my answer. "It's not always about the money, is it? I love teaching. There's something incredibly rewarding about watching a student's eyes light up when they finally grasp a concept they've been struggling with. It's like... it's like watching a light bulb turn on, but instead of illuminating a room, it's illuminating a mind."
"That's... actually quite beautiful," Veronica said, looking impressed.
"Plus, there's the whole 'shaping the minds of future generations' thing. No pressure or anything."
She laughed again. "Fair enough. But what does your father think about all this?"
"He's... not thrilled, to put it mildly. He keeps pushing for me to join the family business. Says it's my 'destiny' or something equally dramatic. I'm still on the fence about it, to be honest."
"Really? You seem pretty passionate about teaching."
"I am, but... well, family is family, you know? And sometimes I wonder if I'm being selfish, choosing my own path instead of the one laid out for me."
Veronica nodded thoughtfully. "I can understand that. But from what I've seen tonight, I have to say, business might actually suit you quite well."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what makes you say that?"
"Well, you're charming, quick-witted, and you seem to have a knack for making people feel at ease. Those are all valuable skills in the business world."
"Huh," I mused, taking another sip of wine. "I never really thought about it like that. Maybe I'll have to give it some more consideration."
"Don't make life-altering decisions based on the opinion of a woman you just met," she laughed. "But it's something to think about, right?"
"I'll definitely give it some thought," I said. "But for now, let's talk about something less existential, shall we?"
"Agreed," Veronica said, raising her glass. "How about a toast?"
"To what?"
"To unexpected connections," she suggested. "And to prove our fathers wrong about blind dates being a complete waste of time."
I clinked my glass against hers, grinning. "I'll drink to that. You know, Veronica, I have to say, I'm really enjoying your company. What do you say we keep in touch after this? See if there's anything here, romantically speaking. And if not, I think we could be great friends."
Her smile was warm and genuine. "I'd like that, Thomas. Just promise me one thing?"
"What's that?"
"Don't ghost me later, okay? I've had enough of that to last a lifetime."
"I solemnly swear that I will not ghost you. Unless, of course, I discover that you're secretly a vampire or something. Then all bets are off."
She laughed, shaking her head. "Fair enough. And the same goes for me. No ghosting unless you turn out to be a werewolf, a zombie, or something equally disturbing."
"Deal," I said, extending my hand across the table. She took it, her grip firm and warm.
As our hands parted, I felt a spark of... something. They were not quite romantic fireworks, but definitely friendly warmth. Who knew my dad's meddling could actually lead to something positive?
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