ExposedNYC

So, after my best efforts of flirting with Dad’s Name, I went back to sit at my adjacent table and made sure not to engage in deep conversation as to be unapproachable. Turns out it didn’t matter because he walked right back to his friends without a second glance.

All right, I thought, it’s his birthday, he’s out with friends, and I gave it my best effort. I’ll move on and have fun tonight. I had been keeping my visiting girlfriend on play-by-play all night, so I filled her in on the developments inside. She was not as quick to lose faith, and insisted I should find a way to continue talking to him.

Half of our group was starving at his point so we made plans to hit the local Irish Pub that we knew was still serving food. As we stood up to leave I gave one last “Happy Birthday Dad’s Name” across the table, to which he politely responded thanks, and I walked away.

I got about ten feet away when I realized the whole group wasn’t following. I turned around to discover my out of town girlfriend talking to Dad’s Name and the friend sitting next to him gesturing me back. Apparently (because of course she filled me in later), she walked up to him after I walked away and said “There goes the perfect chance to ask for her number,” at which point all of his friends started egging him on and hollering, “Hey Flowers (due to my dress)”, for me to come back.

I reluctantly walked over to the table where he and I stared awkwardly at each other, like two middle school kids shoved into the center of a circle and forced to fight when neither one knows how to throw a punch. I apologized and insisted that I didn’t mean to put him in this position while out of town girlfriend shoved a pen and paper into my hands. Of course, part of me was hoping he would reassure me by asking for it then and there.

I knew my instincts had been right when he said, “Tell you what, just write down who you think was in the coffin on that paper,” referring to our earlier LOST conversation, and giving me an easy out to save face. I scribbled my answer, and an email address with “Just in case you want to discuss”. Somehow that seemed less desperate than forcing a number he didn’t ask for into his hands, but left the very slight window of future communication open for possibility.

I know my girlfriend meant well, but I had sent out signals and he was clearly not responding. I was ready to walk away with my head held high until we were put into a spotlight, surrounded by our friends, and forced into a dating duel. But hey, at least I won’t feel weird trying to reimagine my Dad’s Name.

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