Dateless in Denver: He Ditched the Job, She Ditched Him

At the start of the summer, in anticipation of all those hot times ahead, we shared a string of articles about dating in Denver, including a cover piece that explored “Why Dating in Denver Is a Dumpster Fire.”

Then, because misery loves company, we introduced “Dateless in Denver,” a series of reader essays on the realities of dating in Denver – the good, the bad and the ugly – that most recently shared an account of a very sticky first-date situation. This round, we have a short but definitely not sweet submission from Jake:

I had fallen hard for the woman I thought was the love of my life. I was working a very toxic job that was getting to me at the time, but I was leery of taking the leap to quit – I didn’t want to be unemployed while seeing her, for fear she would expect to take care of me financially or push away.

After we discussed it, she assured me she supported my decision and would support me (in a non-financial capacity), and told me she loved me. A few days later I put in my two weeks – and she blindsided me and ghosted me. I never heard from her again and was unemployed and heartbroken. It completely devastated me.

Have a dating story – good or bad – that you’d like to share? An essay on the scene in general? While “Dateless in Denver” will continue, summer is long past and we’re heading into the cuffing season. To warm up your winter, we’re introducing “Dating in Denver,” a guide for places to go and things to do around town on a first, fourth or fiftieth date. Looking for a cozy restaurant booth? How about a spot to get in hot water? Hoping for a Nutcracker experience that works out better than Jake’s? Send us your questions and we’ll come up with answers. Email editorial@westword.com.