Danger Zone

So, DD just friended my on facebook. This poses a small, tiny red flag in my brain becuase I am also fbook friends with SmartyPants.

There is an impending problem here. But I'm about to click "accept" anyway.

I went through some conflicted feelings this weekend as regards who I was going to ask to Starlight Theatre's first concert of the year.

I ended up asking SmartyPants first - due chiefly to the guarantee of a make-out session. (shallow but true!)

"Do you like Arcade Fire?" I asked in the midst of working and after he had sent me a text saying he knew I was busy but was thinking about me.

"They're alright," he returns.

Well, fine. You're not going with me then. That's my kneejerk reaction to him because, see, I assume that me asking is easily translated code for "the next thing I'm going to ask you is if you want to go WITH me to their concert." Also, we're talking via text - how easy would it have been to frickin' google it and see if there was context for my question.

I'm busy with Kevin and Michael Bacon and their band for an event (yes, THAT Kevin Bacon - you are all now closer in your six degrees game)...so I decide to ignore him because perhaps I won't be so annoyed on Sunday when I've been able to rest.

I'm still annoyed Sunday and get a great email from DD who seems so totally down-to-earth and in love with his kids that I think I definitely have to meet him. And lucky for me, he asks at the conclusion of his email if we can grab lunch of a mini-coffee or drink date after work. Some girls would be offended by this, but I think I like him MORE because of it becuase he clearly recognizes that we'll know a lot by meeting one another and that could either extend the short date parameters OR give us an easy out if we meet eachother and it totally sucks.

However, he's set the short-thing parameter so I now feel like I can't invite him to the concert at my place of employ - which is what I had been considering. I haven't responded to him yet, but a date is IN THE WORKS!

Back to Smartypants - and not one to take things lying down - I text:

"So, what I clearly didn't flesh out on Saturday was that I was asking you about Arcade Fire becuase they're coming to Starlight Wednesday and I'm in hot pursuit of a date"

"Where was I on the list?"

"Top till you said they were just "alright"" I shoot back.

"So, you went down the list and couldn't find a date and are rounding back on me?"

Oooh, out-snarked! Dammit.

"I was busy and thought I'd wait till today to strongarm you into feigning interest in me through a concert," I say.

"I'd love to be your date."

"I thought so."

I decide I like him again and so invite him to consider joining one of the weekly happy hours I USED to have with a group of my friends until I got so busy with work. Yes, it's time to parade him out and let them cast judgment. He'll probably blank face the into oblivion. I think he might shy away but I like him even more when he says "will you still be with them at 5:30 or 6? it might take me that long to get there."

Point for you, Smartypants. You're still surprising me.

I say yes and that we can ride together so that we can use my badge to skate through parking at the theatre.

"Are we gonna make out?" he asks in return.

I want to believe he's joking, but I also frown because this seems to be a top priority for him. Granted, yes, you read above it was top priority for me as well but it's not like I told HIM that.

"Is that all I'm good for?" I decide to ask outright.

"No. I just really like it," he says.

Ditto. But I don't say THAT either.

"You are also good for free parking."

I hate and like this kid so much.

"...and also free concert tickets. I'm actually a TOTALLY awesome person to date." I text back.

"free concerts, awesome a making out, beautiful and fun to hang out with...yeah i'd agree pretty awesome."

REDEEMED. I can be won by flattery.

He's so 26 though. I'm intersted in seeing what 32 DD is like in comparison...a little side by side (yes going to blow up in my stupid face) comparison. DD emails about appreciating that I'm staying in my job till I'm vested in my 401K and about his future plans with being an accountant.

Oh, but he also responded to a comment I made about great relationships being "best friends who have really great sex with a chase of an intangible something extra" with a very intriguing little spiel on sexual chemistry being as important as other chemistry (i agree) and just throwing out that "vanilla sex" forever is not going to hack it. He's got a streak of something else.

So...definitely meeting him.

And thus, I enter willfully and of my own accord into the danger zone.