Free The 10 Year Plan by JC Calciano

where he often went to study. Myles did some recon and checked out the place so there would be no surprises. It was a small, mom and pop affair—a much more appropriate date atmosphere than a bustling Starbucks.
    It was a homey place where both young and old seemed to gather. The kind of place that reminded Myles of a coffee shop you might have found in a Midwestern town fifty years ago. Or at least that was the idea he had of coffee shops back then and there.
    On his solo trip he found the place to be clean and pleasant - it had a nice quiet garden with a fountain in back where you could sit and hear the water trickle. It generally wasn’t his kind of place, but he had to admit he had a good feeling meeting there.
    In true Myles fashion, he arrived early for the date. The place was nearly full, and he was lucky to find a small table near the front window. He glanced at his phone and saw it was almost time for Stu to arrive. He ordered for himself—and as a result of his research—for Stu, as well. Before long a well-dressed man of about thirty walked into the place, looked around, and approached Myles’ table. “Myles?” he asked.
    â€œI am, indeed.” He smiled warmly as he indicated the chair opposite him. “It’s really nice to meet you. Brody told me a lot about you.”
    â€œThat’s good…I guess.” He smiled disarmingly. “I’m Stu, by the way.”
    â€œI figured as much,” Myles said.
    â€œSorry.” Stu looked embarrassed, and Myles immediately regretted his lame attempt at humor. Being friends with Brody had shifted his filter in ways he’d never expected.
    â€œDon’t be; it’s okay.”
    Stu pulled out the chair and sat down. “It’s funny you picked this place. It’s actually one of my favorite coffee shops... and you ordered me an éclair. I love those.”
    â€œHere’s a decaf soy latte too.” He indicated the cup sitting on the table. “I like to do my research before I meet someone.”
    Stu had a strange look on his face, a look of disbelief and possibly… concern. “You what?”
    â€œJust a little research, that’s all. The more I know about you, the more I can relate to who you are. Just a standard, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn in search was all. I also found some very telling photos of you online. You really need to be careful when posting photos like that. Who knows when an employer may find them. It could get embarrassing.” Like this conversation, Myles thought, as he tried to reign himself in.
    â€œI see.” He stared at Myles for a moment and then excused himself. “Have to go home and study,” he said as he hurried away from the table without even a backward glance.
    Had to study! The nerve! Myles thought. He didn’t even touch the éclair.
    Myles had to admit it, he’d done it again—tried to make everything perfect. But why did everyone object to that? If someone treated him this way, he’d be flattered. Why wasn’t Stu? Why weren’t any of the others he’d dated? He signed and leaned back in the wire-backed chair.
    And so it continued. Before long he felt as if he were on an extra-fast merry-go-round and couldn’t jump off, loaded by Brody with a seemingly endless amount of replacement passengers. Only the faces in front of him changed, as did complexions, body types, and hair color. The only things the men had in common were they were in their early thirties and were attractive in their own ways. It became so bad Myles had trouble remembering which date was which, who he had seen, and who Brody had next to introduce him to.
    â€œWhen you say you like to do your research before you meet someone, what exactly do you mean by that?” Ramón asked. He was a Latino from Belize, with the darkest eyes Myles had ever seen.
    â€œI like to know who I’m meeting. I just like to look at Facebook posts and