We were hooked.
Granted, just as with the online auction site, there were plenty of duds.
“This one says his mom calls him Alexander and so should we,” commented Scorpio.
“What’s his real name?”
“Chad.”
Under “Things I can’t live without,” another wrote: You.
“He must be dead then,” I shook my head.
But then there was one who had…potential.
“Ooh, look! Look!” Scorpio squealed–and she never squeals.
He was a continental traveler, a Jewish Brit with a haughtily intellectual, deliciously academic profile. It was full of scholarly jokes, witticisms and clever asides.
For months, she and I had been talking about finding fabulous brainy types with whom to start holding literary salons.
“He’s just the kind of person–”
“We could really talk to!” Scorpio finished.
We looked at each other.
“So…” she grinned, “let’s ask him out together!”
Strange? Maybe. But Scorpio and I always have so much fun on our own, why not add to the mix a guy we both find potentially intriguing?
“It’s so weird, it could actually work,” I nodded.
It would definitely cut down on post-date catch-up time.
As for the danger of both of us falling for the same man, we weren’t worried. Although we could get along with the same person, our relationship criteria are entirely different: I seek sensitive, serious, ultra-creative types while she likes cynical, wry, tough-edged intellectuals. In short, I’m an airy Gemini; she’s a fiery Scorpio. After one “group date,” whichever one of us clicked with the guy more could see him again on her own.
“So let’s write to him!” Scorpio whisper-shrieked.
“Yes!” I said. But then I remembered why we’d never done this before: “It takes credits–we’d have to subscribe.” Her face fell.
“We have to pay?”
“Yeah, that’s why I just wait for guys to contact me,” I shrugged. “I’m cheap.”
She, equally cheap, dropped her shoulders into a full-body sulk.
“Well…we could try something,” I said. Her eyebrows rose. “When I first subscribed, the site was giving away free credits. I think I have one left.”
Excitedly, she and I began composing a letter. Care to join in spirited conversation with two fabulous intellectual women? we wrote.
To be continued next Thursday
“Miss Gemini” (Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh) and “Miss Scorpio” are dating experts and co-authors of Gemini and Scorpio’s Fabulous Guide to Online Dating


