for the first time in living memory. Wracking my brains, I really can't remember the last time I went somewhere to meet a girl so we could get to know each other better. We'd met before and recently bumped into each other after a night out. We exchanged a few messages on Facebook, both of us consulted a mutual friend and against her best advice, it seems, we decided to meet up at a local gig.
I thought I'd be nervous as I approached the pub but I wasn't; this new 'me' is perfectly confident and has no real place for these kind of nerves and this, combined with my sobriety, left me with few worries. I just made sure I looked my best and wandered on in, meeting her and being introduced to various friends who's names I tried to hold on to but instantly forgot - I need to work on this.
We got a drink and she questioned why I wasn't drinking - one of five times I'd answer that question during the day - and we chatted about life in general before the band started. Her brother played bass and she was at the front, part of a large following who apparently followed them around gigs supporting them. I stayed back, not wanting to be crowded by tens of strangers singing at the top of their lungs, quite happy to lean on the bar and catch up with a couple of old friends.
After their set, my date and I got talking about things that are important to us. She said she was looking for a man with a house who she could settle down with and have kids. This isn't me. I'm 34, have a teenaged daughter, live in a tiny annexe and earn less than minimum wage. I think she's set herself some internal deadlines and is trying to find Mr Right so she doesn't get left behind all her friends who are getting married and settling down. At one point she used the word 'desperate' in a reasonably different context and that triggered something which turned me off quite a bit. Because yeah, you are desperate, just a little bit. You've got your ideal scenario and you're chasing it, hard enough to consider me an option. You're very sweet and I'm definitely attracted to you but I can't be sure I'm not just the first guy who's come along and qualified in the race to get your family started.
We chatted for a while and the band started up again. She went off to the front and I enjoyed the music from the back while the crowd went wild. They were due to finish at 6pm but overran by almost half an hour, by which time I was clock-watching as I'd told daughter I'd be in town shortly after six and she'd texted chasing me. I said my goodbyes once the band finished and wandered into town, pleased I'd made the effort to meet her and see the band but reasonably sure of how I felt about the situation.
I got into town of met up with daughter and a few of my friends while enjoying another music event. A short while later I got a text from my date saying it was nice to see me and she might be in town later so she'd give me a shout. I responded politely and I got a text back calling me 'a sexy guy' which is flattering but, if I'm honest, a bit full-on and almost laying it out on a plate. However, I do consider myself a gentleman and despite an obvious physical attraction and potential bedroom action - to end a drought of almost three years - I messaged her yesterday to be honest and clear. You're very sweet but I can't give you what you're looking for.
I ended the day on a high, bopping to the rockabilly strains of The Jets live in the town centre surrounded by friends, watching daughter dancing away with her mates and stone-cold sober for the third event in a row. I'm a full week without alcohol now, two and a half weeks since I last got pissed and despite a couple of minor internal conflicts over wanting and not wanting to drink, I've really enjoyed it. Long may it continue.
Also, her eyelashes were caked in black mascara. What's the deal with that?
No comments:
Post a Comment