I was about to go on a date with a man I hire .
Several thoughts belt along through my mind : how on Earth did Richard Gere do this ? Richard Gere was a fictitious character inPretty Woman , not a real person . fine , fine – how do men do this ? Goddamn it , if military man can do it , women can too ! This is really more Debra Messing inThe Wedding Datethan Richard Gere inPretty Woman .
After come to my last conclusion , I downed a field glass of wine to cool it my restive nerve and become off into the night to meet my " particular date . "
Jason Hoffman/Thrillist
Rent A Gentis a service that allows women to take handsome mankind for just about anything our little kernel desire ( except for boning ! ) … from piece an IKEA table , to bartending , to being your escort for the evening . When I first heard about it , I was more intrigued than the time I heard about pretzel M&M ’s . I in person could n’t care less if the guy rope who caulks my bath looks like Homer Simpson ( confession : I ’ve never had a bathing tub caulked ) , so long as he get the occupation done . But ride people wild with envy when they see my gorgeous date ? Yes , of course of instruction I ’d be down for that .
If man can do it , women can too !
So when I was ask over to a huge birthday belt for an quondam gamy school friend , only three words came to mind : " Rent A Gent . " This would be the consummate opportunity to fetch a marvellous , handsome , debonair date . I had only late reconnected with Amy * , and only casually knew the friend of hers I did . No one would have a clue about the actual status of my dating life ( I had just broken up with someone ) . Had this been a party for one of my close champion , the jig would have been up before it set off .
I peruse the man of Rent A Gent , put forward my top choices , and was tally with Tom ; a 6’3 " , disconsolate - hairy actor with bright - green optic . I was recite Tom would call me the solar day before to finalize our plans . Eager to verify this artifice go off without a check , I mull over all the subject that might come up in conversation . Did he need to know I was obsessed with Gwen Stefani ? Or that I ’ve always want to go to Bali ? Or that I hate beet ?
I settle to keep it to the basic principle during our chat . So Tom was told whose political party it was , who would be there , that I ’m a Democrat , I ’m from Jersey , and I like rock medicine . And I really love tall mallow . We agreed to meet at a Starbucks around the recess from the locale .
When it was time to meet Tom , I began to interview my saneness . On newspaper publisher it seemed like a completely awkward and weird thing to do . What if I did n’t evenlikethis guy ? What if he had bad breath ? What if he was a total looney ?
But as soon as Tom get in , he put me at comfort . He was super shiver and personable , and we chitchat about everything from medicine to films to books as we walk to the bar . For a moment , I began to experience like I was on a real date .
What if he was a total loony ?
" Let ’s sit down on this bench for a few minutes , " Tom enunciate motioning me to sit . " First things first , " he said as I sat down . " You ’re sitting too far away from me . No one will ever believe we ’re dating . " all-fired this hombre was good ! Here I was worried about beets and Gwen Stefani when the real game show was my body language .
While making small public lecture , he confided in me that many woman terminate up lease a guy to make an ex overjealous at a party . I could n’t help but express joy . It was an expensive ( albeit effective ) melodic theme , and one that had n’t occurred to me . I just want the comfort of having a date at a expectant party where many other people would in all likelihood be coupled .
After 15 arcminute or so , matter between us seemed warm up enough to go to the company . A complete valet , Tom opened the door , helped me with my coating , held my hand as we go into , and made sure to get me a glass of red vino .
As we made the political party round out and I started introducing Tom , I bug out feel more and more well-off . Tom was at ease talking to just about everyone and was straightaway to usher me to the front of the bar to watch the birthday girlfriend make her speech . He dextrously lead me aside when he saw an annoying conversancy I did n’t want to lecture to coming our way , and even shared his risotto ball with me . This guy cable was almost better than an genuine day of the month . Even if it was n’t real , it was courteous to be treated like a lady .
We looked good together , even if we were a faux couple .
After half an hour , my safety gadget had dropped and I began just enjoying the evening rather of thinking about how I rented a clotheshorse . Tom ’s implicit understanding of societal behaviors and situations made him the idealistic guy to take to a big event where you want to make a ripe impression .
" You guys make a gorgeous twosome , " Amy enunciate , once I lastly got to take hold of up with her . It ’s true . We looked good together … even if we were a faux couple . I began to palpate guilty live I was completely lying to everyone , but another drinking glass of wine-coloured got me right on over that bump .
Tom walk me to the underpass , where we switch over polite goodbyes . amazingly , it was n’t as inept as I think it would be . Would I do it again ? If I had John Cash to incinerate and I had an of import case to go to ( a wedding , banquet dinner party , and reunion all come to mind ) then yes , I might look at it . I bounded down the subway stairs happy at how successful the night went .
Let ’s face it , you could be a Nobel Peace Prize - winning Eruca sativa scientist and the great unwashed would still wonder why you ’re not dating , engaged , or married . We all feel awkward show up to fully grown events dateless . It matte overnice to put those concern aside for one evening and just enjoy being part of a felicitous couple . Even if it was make believe .
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