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

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