Date Lab

He's cute -- but unemployed. Will she be his sugar momma?

7 P.M., MON AMI GABI, BETHESDA

Stephen: When I got to the restaurant, I was surprised like, This is a nice-looking place. I think I'm underdressed. The hostess walked me to the table, and [Jessica] was sitting there. Physically, I want a woman to be curvy, voluptuous or heavy. I like pear-shaped women. She's a little more top-heavy, but she looked pretty good.

Jessica: He was really handsome. He had a nice complexion, and his face kind of had a serious look, a very adult look, which I liked. But he was very quiet at first.

Stephen: I don't get out that often. It's kind of awkward trying to approach a girl when you don't have a job. And I didn't want to say anything stupid and scare her off with my juvenile humor. [But then we started talking about] our family lives, where we're from, what we put on our Date Lab questionnaires, and I was like, What do I have to lose? I told her [for my superpower] I'd like to be able to tell if someone had an STD. She started giggling. But maybe she was uncomfortable.

Jessica: I didn't think it was funny, really, but I didn't think it was offensive. He seemed really lighthearted and young. And maybe he was intimidated, because right before our meal came, he told me that he didn't have a job. I was surprised -- he has a master's degree [in communications]. He was telling me about interviews he'd gone on, and they were all over the place.

Stephen: I'm having trouble finding entry-level jobs in my field. I've been having to settle: I got this teaching job at [a vocational school] and then shooting school pictures. That was a pain in the neck because of all the driving. During dinner, I was feeling some attraction to Jessica. She gave off the impression that she's a person that likes to enjoy life: She told me she belly-danced and rock-climbed. It's good to be around somebody like that. I was trying to flirt and be funny, seeing if I could feed her steak with my fork. I figured at least it would make her laugh.

Jessica: It was weird, right in my face. After dessert, we talked maybe another 10 minutes. I hadn't realized how late it was, [but then] I was like, I have to get out of here -- I have to be to work on time tomorrow!

Stephen: It was 10 to 10. [Walking] out, I was joking around, trying to hold her hand. She was giggling, but like, "What's with the hand-holding?" So I just let her go in front of me. Outside, we had a nice hug, and then she got into her car. [Once home,] I sent her a text message. I'd give the date a 4 [out of 5]. She definitely is a cool person. I'd want to try something else new with her, like wall-climbing or watching her belly-dance.

Jessica: His text said goodnight, thanks for a nice evening. I said, "No problem! It was a lot of fun." I have to rate [the date] a 3. He seemed like a good person with good intentions, [but] I don't think I would go on another date with him.

Interviews by Christina Breda Antoniades

UPDATE: Stephen followed up with a second text message but a few days later hadn't heard back.

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