It must have been The Man’s night off because he was not there when we arrived. But he did arrive half an hour later, a striped scarf wrapped around his neck. I was lost in conversation and sitting in an awkward place which meant I had to turn my head right around to follow him. So, I happily concentrated on the conversation at hand.
My friend–sitting directly opposite him–began her analysis some time later.
“He must be so lonely.”
“Why?”
“Well, look. It’s his night off. Yet he comes to the place he works and sits with old men! The poor guy.” I turned to see what she was referring to and she was right. There he was sitting with a couple of men who were not a day younger than 60. But, in really swanky suits. I guess in their day they called them leisure suits.
“Mmm” I said not entirely convinced of this ‘lonely guy’ picture she was painting for me.
“Hope, think about it. He’s got the night off. He comes here. He sits with people that are so much older than him. He must be alone.”
“I guess. I mean he is in a foreign country and all.”
“You should go up to him and tell him to join us. I mean, if you were the type of person who could do that. You should totally do that.
“If only..”
“Why can’t you just be his friend? I’m not talking about dating. He’s alone, you’re alone, you can be friends.”
Some time later, the old men began to leave. This is my chance, I thought to myself. They’ll leave and he’ll look over and I’ll wave and motion for him to come over.
I looked away for two minutes and then when I looked back and the crowd parted between our table and his, he wasn’t so alone anymore.
“Why is he sitting with a woman? I asked casually, surprised that it had not come out as shrilly as it sounded in my head.
“Where?”
“There.”
“Oh.”
“Oh, it gets better. He is sitting with three other woman.”
“Oh.”
Some time after that.
“They’re leaving.”
“Are they leaving together?”
“Yes.”
“Shit.”
A little bit later.
“She likes him.”
“How can you tell?”
“I have this gift, I can always tell if two people like each other.”
“Does he like her?”
Silence.
More silence.
My eyebrows were raised expectedly waiting for her diagnoses of the mating game going on in front of me.
“Yes. Yes, he likes her.”
“Damn.”
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Crap. Just crap. I hate it when this kind of thing happens.
The butterflies are so much fun, but then it does pretty much suck when confronted with a reality other than the one you were hoping for…
Still, it’ll work out in the end.
I don’t really let myself feel butterflies anymore. I’ve kind of found a way to pin them down until they’re worth having. But yea, the reality of this situation does suck.
Oh damn.
It probably won’t work out… I have this sense, I can’t just tell.
Wait. It probably won’t work out between him and that other woman. Or between me and him?
Aww. Girl, you totally should’ve jumped on that. Like 2 weeks ago. ;-) Just kidding.
No. You’re right. I should have. But to be fair, this isn’t the first time I have seen him out and about with a posse of women. It can be all sorts of intimidating.
That is all sorts of suck.
But, your friend has a very marketable skill.
She’s looking to patent it, actually. ;)
ack…i hate when that happens!! but i’m a hesistater about gutsy first moves, so i”m not one to talk.
damn, indeed. but a fun and addicting post to read!!
Thanks, Libby. Not only am I also a hesitater, but I’m also a little traditional. I want the man to make the first move.
so what if they left together? hello we do live in the year 2007 nearly 2008 and leaving with someone doesnt mean that they will be a couple for the years to come.
more likely they wont even be together tomorrow. so no need for your hopes to die so quick. simply next time get into the game before someone beats you to it. there is no such thing as im too shy or i dont know how to. just do it, at the end of the day you have absolutely nothing to lose by inviting him to sit and have a drink with you and your friend.
My hopes did not die at all. Don’t forget the title of this blog, hon. As long as he does not have a girlfriend, I am not giving up. ;)
Oh, I used to be the worst at approaching men. It’s tough! But the way I see it, you can never have too many friends. I think most people feel that way. Next time, march right up to him! Be brave!
:)
I’m most definitely going to try to brave. I think a little bit of vodka might go a long way for this one. ;)
next time you better hop to it my friend!! ;)
lol
Ack, I know! Cute, available men are only available for so long, right?
oh man! i can see how you’d be dissapointed. BUT!, i dont think it’s a lost cause at all! for all we know, these girls could have just been really good friends. and at least you know where he likes to hangout. i think next time you should approach him, because you have nothing to lose. he seemed interested in you the last time he saw you… at least in getting to know you better, which, i think, is how so many good relationships start- with friendship and the getting to know you stuff. don’t lose hope!
Brooke, I have a little problem with instant gratification. So I am always trying to remind myself to take things slowly. And to build a friendship as you say. But, its difficult to see friendship when he’s all tall and manly.
Agh. When I said I hoped he’d appear on your blog again, I was hoping it’d be, I dunno, IN YOUR ARMS. But like Brooke says, don’t give up all hope, Hope! Hee. Sorry, couldn’t resist. They could have been just friends.
Haha! Lisa? I just heart you. That is all.
Aw. I agree with Lisa. I was hoping the same.
They are probably just friends though!
Right after they left, he ran back in and took a swig of beer. The kind you take when you need liquid courage. But, yea, I hope they’re just friends too.
Oh damn. You never know, though, they could be friends, could’ve been a coincidence that they left at the same time, could’ve thought about going home together but he changed his mind when they got outside. All hope is not lost. I’m sure we will be hearing about The Man again…I’m just waiting!
Steph, you didn’t have to wait much longer. ;)
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