Hey. I haven’t heard from you for a while. How’ve you been?
Good, you?
Is everything OK?
Yeah, everything is fine. Why?
Nothing. It’s just that I haven’t heard from you.
I’m not sure what to say to that.
What do you mean?
I don’t want to sound…
What? Are you sick of me already?
What? Why would you think that?
It’s alright if you just say so. I can take it.
What am I supposed to say? I haven’t said anything that would make you feel that way, have I ?
You stopped talking to me.
What?
I haven’t heard from you in a few days. It made me wonder.
Are you trying to be a dick on purpose?
No. Why do you think I’m being a dick?
Because you stopped responding to me weeks ago, and now you’re acting like I am doing something wrong for not continuing the one sided conversation.
I like hearing from you. When you stopped talking when I was out of town, I just figured you must have lost interest.
I am not going to say what most people would say right now. I am going to say what I feel instead.
That is what I want you to do.
I like you. A lot. I thought I had been very clear about it. Maybe even a little more clear than I should have been.
I know. I feel the same way.
But that doesn’t mean I am going to be the only one doing the talking. I can’t just send messages into the air. I need there to be a dialogue.
I got so busy, and I was thinking about you all the time.
And I have no way of knowing that unless you tell me.
I just did.
I just don’t know if that is enough.
What do you mean?
So, we have talked quite a bit, but we’ve only seen each other once.
It was great connecting with you.
Was it?
You didn’t think so?
I did. Your subsequent behavior didn’t convince me that you did though.
What do you mean?
I thought it went really well, but you sort of virtually patted me on the head and called me sweet and then disappeared for a week.
No, I was in touch.
Were you?
Sure! We talked while I was out of town.
Not really. We talked a lot before we met, but not really afterwards. When you barely said a word to me, and made absolutely no mention of getting together again, I figured you weren’t into me.
But I said…
You said I was sweet. And nice. That’s the dating kiss of death. You might as well have said I have a great personality.
You do have a great personality.
Fuck you.
Why are you so mad?
I’m not mad. I’m frustrated that you are complaining about how I stopped talking to you, when you are the one who stopped talking.
I missed hearing from you!
All you had to do is answer my messages in the first place.
So, in summary, you still like me. A lot.
Right. Except that I hate you right this minute. You’ll have to work out something to change my mind
I know just the thing.
I suspect you do.
Are you free tonight?
No, actually I have plans.
Are you serious?
Are you saying that no one but you could possibly want to see me?
What?? No! I’m sorry. God, you’re touchy. I was just disappointed. Tomorrow night?
Sorry. I’m free Saturday or Sunday.
Fuck. I will be really busy with the kids all weekend.
I don’t know if you have time for me.
No, I do. I want to get to know you better.
Saying you want something is not enough. I need some sort of regular contact with you in order to maintain any sort of ongoing interest. Something substantial. If you can’t make time, then it isn’t going to work for me.
What are you saying?
I’m saying that I don’t want to be the person in the back of someone’s black book who only gets a call when he’s desperate.
That is not what this is. Really.
Prove it.
How?
Figure it out. Make time for me, or leave me the fuck alone. I know you’re busy. I have a life too, but if we are going to get to know each other, that means spending time together in some way.
OK. Monday?
Monday I am free.
7 o’clock?
Yes. Can I assume you are picking the place?
Oh yeah. The place you picked sucked.
I’m in complete agreement. Let me know where.
Can I pick you up?
At my house?
Does that make you uncomfortable? I can meet you if that is better for you.
No, no. I’d love it if you pick me up. I’ll text you the address.
Thanks for not bolting.
See you in a few days.