Sixtine’s Unexpected Romantic Journey from Bingo Nights to Secret Spotify Connections

The 2023 SI Swimsuit rookie worked some manifestation magic.

Sixtine Rouyre.Courtesy of Sixtine Rouyre

Welcome back to “Six and the City,” a column where I share my experiences dating in New York City. Last time, I told what I like to call my villain origin story. In brief, I hated dating, went on two dates with a guy, he pointed out my insecurities, and so my best friend and I decided to make a bit of it and started going on weekly dates.

This episode is titled "Mastermind."

Let me set the scene. My friend and I had just left an influencer event, and we decided to stop by a bar-restaurant we knew would be a vibe late at night. Unbeknownst to us, the bar hosted bingo nights on Wednesdays. We signed up and got to marking our cards. Halfway through the game, I noticed the game host was cute, and was flirting with us hard. Let’s call him “Billy.” I saw this as the perfect opportunity to push myself toward my new goal of dating, so I wrote my number down on the bingo card with plans to give it to him after the game (which we won!). But before I got the chance, he came up to us to exchange Instagrams, jokingly promising to rig the game if we came back again so we could all go out for a drink with the winnings. So, while I didn’t give him my number, I still saw the night as a win.

I called dibs, so my friend agreed I could pursue him. A few weeks later, we went back with a plan. I brought a male friend for my girlfriend so that there would be no question about who Billy was being set up with. Within a few hours, we were all laughing and drinking like we had been friends for years. After a few rounds, Billy suggested we go to another bar, and shortly thereafter, my friends were making out on the couch while Billy and I were sitting at the bar chatting with the bartender. We quickly found out that the bartender’s name was also Billy. What are the odds? But I was too focused on how cute bartender Billy was to pay much attention to the conversation.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: Sixtine, you’re on a date with another man. I know, I know, but trust me when I say he was really cute, O.K.? Plus, I am a big advocate of realistic expectations of others. I owe my date politeness and respect and would never be rude, but I also do not know this man and do not owe him my loyalty outside of this single date. So, drunk me somehow came up with a marvelous plan.

“I absolutely love the music playing in this bar,” I said to Billy the bartender. He happily told me it was his own playlist, just as I had hoped. “You just have to give it to me,” I replied while giving him my phone with Spotify already open.

Sure enough, when I opened Spotify the next morning (after Billy the bingo host had left), there was his playlist, with his full name attached. I found him on Instagram easily, and within an hour of following him, I had a follow back and a DM. I’d like to think Taylor Swift would be proud. Less than a week later, I was back at Billy’s bar, having a drink with my second Billy in a week.

And that, my friends, is how I kicked off my dating series.

I am a firm believer in the power of manifestation and asking the universe for what you want, and this was a confirmation of just that. The second I opened myself up to the idea, the dates came easily—maybe even too easily. For the first time in a while, I realized how fun being single could be if I stopped thinking about it as this dreadful thing and instead as a fun way to discover what I like and what I want. To this day, I still have the bingo card with my number written on it, serving as a reminder to myself of what can happen when I simply let go and have fun.

I hope this article convinces you to do the same. Until next time, readers.

xoxo,

Sixtine