Dating Pays Off

Earlier this week I got a call on my cell from a number I didn’t recognize. Naturally, I didn’t pick up, letting it go to voicemail instead where I picked up the message later. Turns out it’s this guy with a lovely British accent (which has nothing to do with my story, I just like British accents) who tells me I won a contest on some dating site. He named a site I vaguely remember visiting at one point, but not lately, and not often. So right off, I’m a little skeptical. I’ve gotten those calls where you’ve “won” a vacation package and all you have to do is sit through a timeshare lecture. Or that I’ve “won” some gift card and all I have to do is sign up for five of their partners’ free trial offers to claim it in 8 to 12 weeks. I’m not totally buying it.

So, I don’t call the guy back.

The next day I get another call, different area code, this one is from a woman. She says they’re ready to mail out my prize, all they need is my address. Again, skeptical. But, they’re persistent. And that little bit of hope in the back of my mind that maybe I have randomly won some cash prize niggles at me… until finally I call back. Of course, the woman’s left the office for the day by then, and I leave a message with my address with the nit-wit receptionist (I have nothing against receptionists, but this one was a total ditz. Me: “Can I leave a message?” Her: (deep sigh) “If you really have to. Hold on. I guess I have to get a pen now.” )

A day goes by. Then the weekend. Nothing Monday. At this point, I figure I’ve been duped. I’ve just given my address to a spammer who will be sending junk mailing to my house on into eternity. Great.

Then I open my inbox that morning and there’s an email from the dating site. See, what did I tell you? Spam city already. But, out of curiosity I open it.

Across the top of the email are the words, “Announcing the Winners of our Best Pick-up Line Contest”. I scroll down and… guess what? There’s my name! I had totally forgotten entering, but it’s coming back to me that there was a section on their site that said enter your best pick-up line. So, I guess I figured, “Why not?” and did. And it won second place!

For a moment, I did a little happy dance in my chair. I really was getting prize money!! And then it hit me. This email was going out to ALL the members of the dating site. With my name on it. I am now known as the second best pick-up artist to every single guy on the site. Honestly, not sure if I wanted that much exposure as a dating pro. You know, not that I’m turning down the prize or anything… ;)

So, how should I spend my $150 dating prize?


~Trigger Happy (Pick-Up Artist) Halliday


P.S. My corny line: I write romance novels for a living. Wanna help me with some research?