Untangled 7: Like a teenager

Within two weeks of our first phone conversation, he said he would be in Chicago from Miami and wanted to see me. I agreed. We planned to meet that following Friday night after I got off work. We would go see a movie in Oak Park because it was close to me, and I wouldn’t be off work until 5. I rushed home, got dressed, and headed the mile over to the theater. When I drove past, I saw him standing there and was a bit disappointed—he was not my type at all. I didn’t want to be rude, so I decided I would see the movie with him and then taper off the phone conversations.

While in the movie, he was very attentive. I noticed how good he smelled and how well he was dressed. I began to think maybe I could see where this goes. After all, I would rather have a man who treats me well than one who wins beauty contests. After the movie ended, he walked me to the parking garage where my car was parked and paid for my parking. I offered to give him a ride back to his car, which was parked across from the theater around the corner. He accepted. We sat in my car and laughed and talked for about two hours. Then, suddenly, he put his hand on my knee, looked me in my face, and said, “We are going to date.” I was caught off guard by his boldness. It gave him a few points with me—who doesn’t like a man who takes charge? He asked me to give him a hug before leaving, so I got out of the car and gave him a hug. It was the hug that knocked my resolve down. Hugging a man who is taller than you, smells good and has big muscular arms doesn’t hurt one bit. It was under the light of the moon that I began to see him as handsome.

It took me about four minutes to get home. He told me to call him when I made it inside. I didn’t call, but I texted to say I was home because I was tired after working all day. He immediately called, and we talked and laughed until 3:30 a.m. I felt like a teenager again. I didn’t sleep well though. This was the first of many nights that I would wake up trying to put pieces together that just didn’t fit.