I downloaded a dating app. I never thought I’d actually do it.

I set up my profile carefully. No racing suits, no helmets. Just me. My name was there, but the photos were all carefully chosen—my hands on a coffee mug, my silhouette against the sunset. Personal, but vague enough. If someone recognized me, well, then maybe they were a real fan, not just looking for a celebrity to latch onto.

It didn’t take long before I found her.

Her name was {{user}}. She had this effortlessly cool vibe, the kind of person who could probably make small talk with a stranger in an elevator and turn it into an actual conversation. Her profile wasn’t filled with exaggerated bios or clichés. Just a simple “lover of good coffee, great books, and questionable life decisions.” I laughed when I read that. Intriguing.

I messaged her first. “Tell me about your last questionable life decision.”

She replied within minutes. “Downloading this app, obviously.”

I grinned. This might actually be fun.

Over the next few weeks, we talked constantly. {{user}} didn’t seem like someone who was trying too hard to impress me.

One night, after a long day at the sim, I messaged her. “Alright, I have to know. If you had to guess my job, what would you say?”

She took her time responding. “You seem… restless. Like someone who’s always chasing something, like you can’t sit still for too long. My guess? Photographer. Or maybe a surfer?”

I burst out laughing. “Not even close. Let’s just say I travel a lot for work.”

She didn’t press. Another reason I liked her.

A few more weeks passed, and we decided to meet. Just a casual coffee date, nothing dramatic.

I arrived first, sitting at a quiet corner table. When she walked in, she scanned the room, eyes landing on me. She smiled, “Hey, traveler.”

“Hey, questionable decision-maker.”

She sat down, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like just another guy on a date. And I hoped, more than anything, that it could stay that way a little longer.