The non-date, that wasn’t

Continued from the Beginning. 

We picked a pizza and wine shop for our networking dinner. Or was it a date?

I wasn’t sure. Our e-mails had been borderline flirtatious all week and there was definitely some initial chemistry when we met. Those eyes of his… 

We had originally planned on having lunch after meeting at my presentation but I decided, having so much in common professionally, that we would need more than an hour.

“How about dinner and drinks instead?” I e-mailed him.

“Sure, when and where?”

“There’s a pizza and wine shop just down the street from my place. Sound good?”

“Perfect I live just around the corner.”

We were neighbors. Awesome.

I ran straight from work directly to my “maybe it’s a date.”My hair was a mess, my make up all but gone and my nerves still wound up from a long day that began with my ex-husband stopping by to pick up Benjamin. Although typically uneventful, it has always been odd to me that long before I even go to work I’m meeting my ex-husband for a nice morning hand off. This means waking up early, cleaning up the apartment, getting Benjamin’s bag ready. 

By the time dates usually begin I’m beyond spent.

I walked in with zero expectations and was just excited to geek out with this guy who approached me after my SEO and presentation and said, “that was remarkable, really, truly remarkable. We really think the same way about this stuff.”

This means a lot to us web geeks because there are varying degrees of expertise, tactics and yada yada – I could be boring you so I’ll stop – but it’s as if we are both doctors and we both hate antibiotics. Something to that effect.  

Soon I found out we both went to Ohio University, in my hometown – Athens, Ohio – the magical little spot on the planet with its brick streets and lush hills that owns a piece of my soul.

“I want to move back there some day.” I said. Typically this statement is taken with a mixture of shock and awe and an “are you crazy?” 

“Really? Me too. That’s so weird. I love that place,” he said with his sweet, soft smile. 

Time was slipping by and soon we weren’t talking about geek stuff at all. When I tried to pick up the check he wouldn’t let me near it.

“Okay, I’ll buy drinks at the next place – assuming you want to hang out a little longer,” I said.

“Are you kidding me? Of course I do.”

It was at the bar and a few drinks later that the real flirting started.

“You’re just dying to kiss me, aren’t you?” I asked.

“Oh my God. Is it that obvious?”

“What about right here then?”

“In the bar?”

“Sure. Why not? Who cares. But not yet. I’m not ready yet.”

I sat there blushing and fidgeting. My own confidence shocking me. I talked the talk but I wasn’t ready just yet. And then a few minutes later – I can’t remember if I said anything or if he just did it but  he leaned across the table, held my face in his hands and kissed me.

Usually a first kiss is a bit awkward. Fumbles and such, I’ll spare you the details, but you know what I mean.

But not this one. No.

It was divine. 

To be continued…

Related posts:

1. How to escape a bad date.
2. The First Date
3. The Living Room Date
4. How to Date a Single Mom, Part 4
5. How to date the childless.