The Kiss Quotient

Stella Lane eats breakfast with her parents, where her mother tells her that she wants a grandchild. Stella’s mother recommends the dating application Tinder, but Stella is disturbed by the components of dating, including sex. Stella redirects the conversation to a promotion she was offered, but ultimately turned down because she prefers working with data rather than people. Stella’s parents ask about a coworker, Phillip James, and if he is datable. When Stella mentions his potential personality disorders, her mother claims that this might make him more sympathetic of Stella’s Asperger’s syndrome. When Stella is noncommittal, her mother reminds her of a fundraiser in upcoming months and Stella’s need for a date. This leads Stella to remember the last blind date her mother arranged, which ended in disappointing sex. Stella leaves for work despite it being a weekend, beginning her usual work routine. Phillip James arrives, picking up a box of condoms he forgot, and informs Stella that the new intern asked him on a date. When Stella asks for details, Phillip asks if she is a virgin, and in response to Stella’s subsequent flustered behavior he recommends that she “‘[g]et some practice” (7).