Heading into my second matchmaker date I didn't have much hope it would be any better than the last.
So when I turned up to the date and exclaimed "you look familiar!" to which he responded "I get that a lot" I didn't think much of it.
This guy was not my usual type - his shoulder length, tight curls weren't something I would usually go for.
With the matchmaking service, they don't show you a photo of the person (just give you a description) so you don't really know what they will look like.
He wasn't unattractive.
We get chatting over a few drinks and he hints he's gone to great lengths to meet someone and he's not talking standard online dating.
Finally he admits he was on the 2017 season of Married at First Sight (MAFS) in Australia.
It took me a couple of seconds for me to piece it all together - I had watched the entire season and knew the couples - just had to remember which one he was, and of course his "wife".
My mind was racing - this guy had been on national television and still wasn't successful finding his partner. And he was using a matchmaking service like me.
What hope did I have?
My next thought was, they haven't been able to match him on here - why not? What quirks did he have?
I remember he was a funny, easy going guy on MAFS and also thought it was strange he was on the show.
He wasn't looking for his five minutes of fame, seemed to have good intentions for finding someone and he didn't fit the stereotypical Instagram fame person.
Turns out he wasn't looking for any of that.
He was just your average guy from Queensland looking for love - just like the rest of us.
Only difference was, his experience was being played out - warts and all - on television.
We spent a good deal of time talking about his experiences on the show - I was getting some behind-the-scenes gossip of how it all played out while filming (I was quietly geeking out!).
We stayed out for quite a few hours (nothing unusual for me on a first date if things are going well).
Drinks lead to dinner - we were quite comfortable in each other's company and things were looking up.
MAFS' loss was my gain.
We lined up a second date five days later but he was a little off - he seemed distracted and even took a 10 minute phone call while on the date (tut tut).
We were out for just under two hours (it was a school night so that was fine).
His feedback from the matchmaking service comes back the next day and it was glowing - said he was attracted to me (always a good sign).
I get a call from him the next night saying he'd enjoyed getting to know me but he wasn't sure how to say this but I was attractive, he just wasn't attracted to me.
Well, damn. Nowhere to go from here.
He was trying to explain but there wasn't anything more I wanted to hear.
The guy isn't attracted to me. It sucks, but at least he had the balls to call me and tell me straight.
My feelings were hurt for a few days, but like all my dating stories, I got back up and brushed myself off.
Two matches down, two to go (fingers crossed!).
