...flew by. I cannot remember what we talked about, but I know we talked for hours, about everything and nothing. He interested me and I felt somehow.......alert, to the fact that my senses were tingling.
The thing is, I was in no hurry to meet anyone. I was still recovering from my divorce and from a short, intense relationship with an old high school friend, and was really just looking to have some fun. To meet new people, broaden my horizons............you know. Date.
I think we talked every night for a few weeks, when he casually mentioned that he was going to be in town for an IT conference at the end of September. Would we like to meet face to face? My initial reaction was fear. Things were going so well on the phone, what if we met and it ruined everything? How ridiculous was that? What was I thinking..that we could just go on talking for the rest of our lives? Of course we had to meet. To see if this chemistry carried over in person as well. So, plans were made for him to come over and have a soda and just meet. That's all, meet.
I was a WRECK. I remember going to work that day and telling all my friends his name and where he was from, just in case I disappeared. (I also reminded them of the Lawn Mowing Stalker and that they might ought to check out both men if I went MIA.) All my friends at work thought I was nuts. Who, they asked, flies out here to meet someone with just the idea of meeting them? They were just sure that he was going to turn out to be a serial killer who would bury me in the backyard, and I have to admit, they had me second guessing myself a little.
I got home from work and started busying myself by tidying the house and trying to focus on something other than my nerves. He called when he got close for last minute directions and before I knew it, I saw his headlights approaching from the west. I remember taking a deep breath and thinking, "Here we go...be cool." I also remember wondering why I was so nervous? What did it matter if he liked me or I liked him in person? We were already friends...what was there to lose?
He pulled into the driveway in his dark grey Dodge Charger and stepped out. He was taller than I imagined and had shy eyes. He took a short glance at me, then a longer look and said,
"You're cute."
It broke the tension and we both laughed and I hugged him. He was solid and smelled nice, (good sign). I invited him in and we talked for a little bit. Upon closer inspection, he had lovely hazel eyes and long, super cow eyelashes. He was dressed in jeans and skater shoes, a big ol' kid. And one other thing, he couldn't stop staring at me. It wasn't disconcerting though, as one might expect. Actually, it had the exact opposite effect. I got sleepy. (That never happens, I am too high strung to relax in the presence of a stranger.) I actually started to doze off as we talked on the couch, and before I knew it, i was curled against him with my head on his chest drifting off to sleep!
It was one of the most comfortable moments of my life. It just felt familiar, relaxing and completely safe.
I don't know how long he was there, but it wasn't long enough, and soon he had to go back to his hotel because we both had early mornings. Before he left, we made plans to see each other the next night for dinner, but I would drive out to his side of town, over by Metro Center.
I don't remember if we talked on the phone after he left, I just remember feeling like I should pay attention. This could be big.
