Page 9 of From Coast to Coast

I love it when you’re in a good mood. So rare. So lovely.

Alex

Seriously, though. The name. Ree?????

Remy

It was my nickname growing up, and Amanda called me that.

Alex

Are you actually telling me that your dating app name is a name your mom and ex-wife call you?

Remy

I can’t use Remy or Stone because people might connect the dots. I don’t have a middle name.

Alex

…………

Laughing, I get distracted from our conversation by a notification. Feeling disproportionately excited, I open the app. The man who messaged me has a profile picture similar to mine: all muscles and no face. I’m glad to see I’ll be fitting in. He went a different route with his profile name, though, and chose DirtyBanger400. A little on the nose, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

DirtyBanger400

hey babe

Scrunching up my nose, I ignore the pet name.Little too soon for that, buddy.

Ree

Hi, how are you?

DirtyBanger400

I’ll send you my location. Come on over and we can get to know one another.

“Ugh.” I groan, exiting the chat and shaking my head. “Creep.”

Not wanting to be discouraged, I scroll aimlessly through the endless photos of men and try to feel something. Ever since Alex suggested I give guys a try, I haven’t been able to think of much else. Amanda and I got married so young, I never had much of an experimental phase. Maybe now is the perfect time to do so—right on the heels of my divorce. Unfortunately, the mindless scroll doesn’t seem to be dredging up any latent gay stirrings. They all look like every naked dude I’ve ever seen in a locker room.

I switch back to Alex.

Remy

First hit was DirtyBanger400 who gave me his address and called me babe.

Alex

All right, well, we’ll save dirty banging for when we’re not so fresh to the gay dating pool. What else you got?

Remy

We?

Alex

I’m your wingman. I get final dick approval.