After the peen experience, I deleted Tinder and Match and thought about ways I could date people who were friends of friends. Seems ... safer.
Turns out, I have a mutual friend in common with "Ketchup". And I did my due diligence and asked my friend about him. She said she was just talking about him the other day - she went to college with him and worked with him for a little bit before moving to a new company and she'd definitely recommend me "getting drinks with him and getting to know him better."
So ... I did.
We wrote almost every day to each other, and tried to get together the first Friday we were talking - but it snowed. And he said he'd "rather meet me in one piece" so we rescheduled for the following Friday and he planned it. Drinks in the North End and then an improv comedy show. He bought the tickets and everything. I know this is something fairly common for those of you reading that have been married for a bit. But I will let you know ... NO ONE has EVER planned a first date where tickets to something were involved before. Not even a movie, or subway ticket.
He was concerned with me driving in snow, and he bought tickets. So far, not like anyone else I've dated.
Now ... the night of the date. I got to the bar I was meeting him at first. Had never been there before, and it was a Friday night in the North End - so the place was packed. I waited for him at the door.
He walked in ... Looked just like his pictures, good! We hug and first thing he says is "Why are you just standing by the door? Did you look on the other side of the bar for seats? Let's go ..." and starts walking.
I'm following behind him like a puppy, trying to say over the crowd "I didn't know their was a bar on the other side here" ... as he spots two seats and says "See!" .... sits down and I follow suit, my radar already up as I think "well, ok! Nice to meet you, too!!!"
The conversation swirls around the ketchup business, how well he does at his job, his upcoming business trips... I have no idea what this guy is thinking about me and I'm sensing major cockiness. I start to feel a little put off, which is further amplified as he orders ... chardonnay's ... while I'm sipping bourbon, which he is disgusted by.
We continue to part two of the date, improv. I so appreciated him getting these tickets and putting this effort in and I soon realized why.
As I sat there looking around like "are people really finding this funny?" ... my date is laughing so hard there is knee slapping happening! AND OF COURSE we are called out right away. I was asked my name, to which I responded in complete embarrassment "oh God". And when we're asked how we know each other I instantly blurt out "it's our first date" ... we were then asked for the rest of the night if that was true, and Ketchup said I should have lied and said we knew each other for years. I think he was really disappointed I called us out like that.
The night ends harmlessly. And by harmlessly, I mean making out in a gay bar surrounded by gay men (can you tell this was my suggestion-portion of the evening?) and off we went on our separate ways.
Saturday. The next day ....
I don't hear from him all day.
Sunday. I go to church. I sit in my car after and debate writing. I hear my best friend saying "don't do it". I hear my mother saying "do not write to him, especially if he's cocky - he'll LOVE that". I hear no no no ... so what do I do ...
I text.
"Safe travels on your business trip"
"Thanks, blondie - I'll talk to you when I'm back to set something else up".
WHEN HE'S BACK!?
We've been talking all day everyday and now he's traveling from Sunday to Friday! And it's not like he's going anywhere crazy, he's going to be in PITTSBURGH. Which reminds me of the movie, He's Just Not That Into You. I'm taking it this isn't a good sign ...
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday evening now ... nothing. I go to bed and google the quote from the movie I was just referring to:
I'm Gigi.
And as I admit defeat, I turn on the TV and GUESS what is on.
He's Just Not That Into You.
I'm a firm believer in signs, as everyone knows, and hello!? Could their be a bigger sign! Just as the part was on, I video tapped it from my phone - to save - as a reminder to swear off Ketchup for the rest of my life and move forward. Proof ... I taped it in the dark, from my bed, while it played on my iPad and I frowned:
Two minutes after taping this ... I get a text.
It's Ketchup. "Hey hey ...."
Long story, which is already long, cut a bit shorter - he lands Friday night and wants to see me Saturday. Today. And has suggested drinks and a movie, OR if he's tired from travel, perhaps I'd want to go to his condo in town and he will make me dinner before the movie. WHAT!?
Looking forward to seeing if the cockiness is indeed true cockiness or maybe it was confidence with a slice of nervousness?
Moral of the story here and lessons learned are:
- Don't text until you get a reply to your last text. Be patient.
- Guys don't like to text when they're working/traveling for work.
- Some signs are the signs you think they are.
- Maybe that movie isn't all true.
- I can still put ketchup on my French Fries. For now.
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