I was so nervous. The whole way there on the subway I had my ipod on really loud, trying not to think about what I was doing. I nearly didn't go. I called M earlier in the day and almost canceled. In the end we agreed to meet a little later than we originally planned.
As I walked up from the subway and down the street I nearly turned back around. What was I doing? Meeting a man nearly old enough to be my father, in a bar when I was only 19!
I was relieved when I made it to the bar, but only because it was so cold outside. Once I thawed out and took a look around I realized that I didn't see anyone who looked like the picture he'd used on his profile. I started to panic. What if he wasn't there? What if someone carded me? What if I knew someone in here?
Just as I was about to leave a man sitting alone at a table caught my eye and mouthed across the room 'CB?' I nodded and made my way over.
He wasn't the man from the photo, and he later explained that it was a picture of one of his friends. He was actually more attractive, and after the first couple of minutes I felt fairly relaxed with him.
He had two homes, one here in the city and one down in Florida. His wife and kids were down in Florida, and they rarely came to our city. He was here a lot for business. He was in real estate in some fashion. I wonder now how he's doing. If he managed to escape the bubble popping and all that.
He ordered me a glass of wine as I had no idea what I wanted. When it came I drank only a little of it. I didn't want to get drunk. He took this to mean that I didn't like it, so he asked the waitress to take it back and get me a cosmo instead. I felt so embarrassed!
After we had been there nearly an hour he took a phone call from his wife. He stepped outside after the intial 'Hi Honey. Yes, still at the bar, watching the game.' I wondered if she could tell, but I didn't feel any guilt.
TBC...