As a radio host giving dating advice, my love life doesn’t exactly get any easier—especially not when I sneak in on my best friend’s first date, dressed as a clown. What happened that night was completely unexpected, and now I’ve found myself in a situation I hadn’t foreseen. Sometimes life leads us to places we least expect.
Once again, I was sitting in Lucy’s cozy kitchen, where she was eagerly talking about another guy who had caught her eye. Lucy’s love life was always exciting, in contrast to mine.
Finding a partner wasn’t easy for me—I didn’t want to go out with someone just to avoid being alone.
I thought it was better to wait than to get involved in something, even if it meant coming home to my cat instead of a man.
“He’s perfect!” Lucy said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “We text all the time. He’s so nice. I think he’s different.”
“Haven’t you met him yet?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Not yet, but we’re meeting on Friday. I’m so excited. I feel like it’s going to be good!” she said.
I smiled, though I didn’t really want to.
“What’s with that look?” she asked, squinting.
“Nothing. It’s just… you don’t know him yet. People can be great online, but totally different when you meet them in person,” I said.
“You’re so suspicious. That’s why you don’t have a man,” Lucy replied, crossing her arms.
“I don’t have a man because men are idiots,” I said, shrugging.
“Not Mike. He’s wonderful. I think he could be the one,” she said.
“Listen to your heart,” I replied. It was the advice I always gave, even though Lucy had said it about every guy she’d met.
After that night, I forgot about Lucy and Mike’s date until Friday came, and I got a message from her.
I was there, dressed as a clown, surrounded by kids—my nephew and niece’s friends—because my brother had forgotten to book an entertainer for their birthday party.
The striped clown costume was too tight, and the red wig itched terribly. I felt sweat dripping down my back as the kids tugged at my oversized shoes and poked me in the side.
“Come on, you can do this,” my brother said, as if it wasn’t a big deal to ask me to juggle balloons and make the kids laugh.
“I’m a radio host, not an entertainer!” I exploded.
“It’s almost the same thing,” he replied with a smile.
Although I really wanted to slam the door behind me, we both knew I wouldn’t. I always respond to family’s calls, even if it means doing something ridiculous.
As I tried to keep the kids from ripping off my wig, my phone rang in my pocket. I quickly checked while making sure my clown nose stayed in place.
When will you be free???
In about half an hour.
I need your help!!!!
What happened?
I frowned. Lucy was on a date with Mike. Had something gone wrong?
I don’t know if Mike likes me! I need you to find out!
How am I supposed to do that?
You do this kind of thing all the time on your show!
I’m dressed as a clown!!
Please!
Alright, but you owe me a favor.
Thanks, thanks, thanks!!!!
I sighed and shoved my phone back in my pocket. After saying goodbye to the kids, I asked Lucy where she was and ordered a taxi.
When I walked into the dimly lit bar, Lucy spotted me immediately and waved eagerly.
Hesitantly, I adjusted my ridiculous clown wig as a group of strangers stared at me, confused. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to their table.
“Mike, this is Trish, my best friend,” Lucy said as I sat down.
“Nice to meet you,” Mike said. His gaze briefly lingered on my bright red nose.
“Hi,” I replied, trying not to notice how ridiculous I looked.
Lucy started chatting, but the conversation quickly took a different turn. Mike mentioned a classic movie, and I couldn’t help but jump in.
“Do you like old films?” I asked curiously.
“A lot,” Mike replied, his face lighting up.
We swapped our favorite films, talked about directors and iconic scenes. Lucy was fiddling with her phone, clearly uninterested. I kept trying to keep the conversation going, but Mike was always engaged.
When Lucy went to the bathroom, I leaned forward and asked the question. “What do you think of Lucy?” I asked him.
“Uh… I mean, she’s cute,” Mike said, looking away as if he didn’t know what to say.
“Cute? Lucy’s more than cute. She’s amazing,” I said firmly. “She’s funny, smart, and a fantastic cook. I eat at her place sometimes because I don’t like cooking.”
“I love cooking,” Mike said, smiling a little.
“See? You two already have something in common,” I said encouragingly. But then he looked me straight in the eyes.
His gaze seemed to study mine, and for a moment, I felt something strange. It was like a spark, something unexpected. My cheeks grew warm, and I quickly smiled back.
“But I don’t want to argue about who cooks,” Mike said, breaking the moment. “There should only be one chef in the kitchen.”
I laughed. “So, you’re the chef?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Always,” he replied with a smile, and we both laughed.
Just then, Lucy came back to the table. “What’s so funny?” she asked, looking between us. “Have you been talking about me?”
“Kind of,” I replied.
Mike’s phone rang, and he excused himself to take the call. When he was gone, Lucy quickly turned to me. “So, what does he think of me?”
“He thinks you’re cute,” I said carefully. “And what do you think of him?”
“I don’t know,” she said, furrowing her brow. “When I saw you two together, it felt like he was more your type.”
“What? No. What? No,” I stammered.
“Not very convincing,” she said with a crooked smile.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s your date,” I said firmly. “There’s one rule: You don’t talk about your best friend’s man.”
“It’s just a first date,” Lucy said, shrugging. Then she smiled. “But I’m glad you reacted like that—I really think I like him.”
I smiled back, but deep inside, I felt like something wasn’t right. A small feeling of sadness hit me, and I didn’t know why.
We stayed a little longer, and I tried to redirect the conversation so Mike and Lucy could talk to each other.
But every time I said something to steer the conversation, Mike responded. It was hard not to notice, and Lucy didn’t seem happy.
When we decided to leave, Lucy went to the bathroom, leaving me alone with Mike. The night air was fresh, and I shivered a little.
“Do you work as an entertainer?” Mike asked in a light tone.
“Why do you ask that?” I replied, raising my brow. That’s when I noticed he was looking at my outfit, and it hit me. “Oh, no! I’m a radio host. I give dating advice, mostly. My nephew and niece’s birthday, and my brother forgot to book an entertainer.” I pointed at my clown costume and smiled awkwardly.
“Well, that’s brave of you,” Mike said, smiling.
“It was okay, until the kids tried to tear my costume apart. They’re little wild ones,” I joked, scrunching my face.
“That really was an odd way to start,” Mike said, laughing.
“I’d say so too,” I replied with a smile.
I never expected the night to take such turns. And as we were leaving, I looked at Lucy one more time and knew it wasn’t just about her. It was about me too. And about how we’re all unexpectedly connected sometimes.
