LJ Idol: Friends and Rivals, Week 1: "Trust Everyone, but Cut the Cards"
"Queen of Hearts"
"Look, you didn't hear this from me." That's never a good sign, even coming from Patty. She peeks over her shoulder, then leans in to make herself heard over the music. "But Tami would totally hook up with you if you wanted it."
Okay, what the hell? This is the third person tonight who's said this to me (maybe not in so many words), and I overheard Harry telling Tami something similar about me earlier. What's going on?
I mean, sure, I wouldn't kick Tami out of bed. No sane, straight male would. And Tami's been flirty with me in the past--but she's flirty with everyone. Still, what if Patty's right? What if I'm missing a golden opportunity here?
"Thanks for letting me know," I say to Patty, standing up and walking over to the next table. Tami gives Cassie a curious look, then a slow nod. I catch Tami's eye and mouth the words, "Can we talk?" She nods and follows me out the door.
"Okay, is what I think is going on actually going on?" I say as soon as we're out of earshot of the bouncer.
"I think so." We look at each other, then exclaim simultaneously, "Our friends are trying to hook us up!" We share a laugh at the realization.
"Good, so it's not just me." I take a deep breath. "What's your reaction to that?"
She pauses to brush the hair out of her eyes. "I mean...why would they do that? They know we're friends, but not more than that, and...I know it's Valentine's Day, but that doesn't mean everybody in the world needs to get laid!"
This coming from a woman who, by her own choice, hasn't been with anyone since her breakup a year ago, despite the fact that she could seduce someone every night if she wanted. As for me, I'm coming off my own breakup, and also haven't gotten laid in a year. Not entirely by choice.
"I think their hearts are in the right place. They see two of their friends who have been alone for a while now, and think that we'd be good for each other."
"But alone doesn't mean lonely." Tami's right, of course.
"Look, I know Harry. I'm pretty sure he's the one behind this. And I don't think he's the type to push us towards each other just for the sake of stirring up drama. If he's trying to make this happen, I trust that he must think it's a good idea. Agreed?"
"Agreed." Tami takes a deep breath. "I guess the question then becomes, do we think it's a good idea?"
The moment of truth. I don't want to scare Tami off by making it sound like I'm just another horny guy who wants to get in her pants (even though, in some ways, that's true). At the same time, if I don't show any interest, neither will she. Where's the script for moments like this?
"Alright, cards on the table." Honesty is the best policy, right? "I don't want to try to coerce or convince you into doing something you don't want to do. Just because all of our friends think we need to get laid doesn't mean we have to. If you don't want it, that's fine. You won't hurt my feelings."
"Thank you," Tami says. After a pause that feels about two seconds too long, she finally speaks. "But..."
"Yeah, you guessed that was coming." I pause to look at her again, this impossibly beautiful friend of mine. "If ever you offered...I mean, what kind of an idiot would I be if I said no to you?"
"Yeah, I know." Tami's well aware of her charms, and isn't afraid to flirt and flaunt.
"It's your call." I try to keep my posture and voice neutral, not wanting to influence her one way or another. In my mind, of course, the train of thought is on a single track.
Tami stands there, the wheels turning in her mind. "I think I need to get away from our friends in order to make this call. Walk me home?"
"Sure." At the very least, it buys us ten minutes to ponder. "I'll get my coat."
I meander back inside and gather my things. Harry gives me a quizzical look. "And?"
"I'm walking Tami home. I may or may not be back."
Harry gives me a thumbs-up. "Good luck. Though I don't think you'll need it."
I can't help but smirk. Here's Harry, trying to rig the game, and the outcome is still up in the air.
"Something tells me I will."
"Look, you didn't hear this from me." That's never a good sign, even coming from Patty. She peeks over her shoulder, then leans in to make herself heard over the music. "But Tami would totally hook up with you if you wanted it."
Okay, what the hell? This is the third person tonight who's said this to me (maybe not in so many words), and I overheard Harry telling Tami something similar about me earlier. What's going on?
I mean, sure, I wouldn't kick Tami out of bed. No sane, straight male would. And Tami's been flirty with me in the past--but she's flirty with everyone. Still, what if Patty's right? What if I'm missing a golden opportunity here?
"Thanks for letting me know," I say to Patty, standing up and walking over to the next table. Tami gives Cassie a curious look, then a slow nod. I catch Tami's eye and mouth the words, "Can we talk?" She nods and follows me out the door.
"Okay, is what I think is going on actually going on?" I say as soon as we're out of earshot of the bouncer.
"I think so." We look at each other, then exclaim simultaneously, "Our friends are trying to hook us up!" We share a laugh at the realization.
"Good, so it's not just me." I take a deep breath. "What's your reaction to that?"
She pauses to brush the hair out of her eyes. "I mean...why would they do that? They know we're friends, but not more than that, and...I know it's Valentine's Day, but that doesn't mean everybody in the world needs to get laid!"
This coming from a woman who, by her own choice, hasn't been with anyone since her breakup a year ago, despite the fact that she could seduce someone every night if she wanted. As for me, I'm coming off my own breakup, and also haven't gotten laid in a year. Not entirely by choice.
"I think their hearts are in the right place. They see two of their friends who have been alone for a while now, and think that we'd be good for each other."
"But alone doesn't mean lonely." Tami's right, of course.
"Look, I know Harry. I'm pretty sure he's the one behind this. And I don't think he's the type to push us towards each other just for the sake of stirring up drama. If he's trying to make this happen, I trust that he must think it's a good idea. Agreed?"
"Agreed." Tami takes a deep breath. "I guess the question then becomes, do we think it's a good idea?"
The moment of truth. I don't want to scare Tami off by making it sound like I'm just another horny guy who wants to get in her pants (even though, in some ways, that's true). At the same time, if I don't show any interest, neither will she. Where's the script for moments like this?
"Alright, cards on the table." Honesty is the best policy, right? "I don't want to try to coerce or convince you into doing something you don't want to do. Just because all of our friends think we need to get laid doesn't mean we have to. If you don't want it, that's fine. You won't hurt my feelings."
"Thank you," Tami says. After a pause that feels about two seconds too long, she finally speaks. "But..."
"Yeah, you guessed that was coming." I pause to look at her again, this impossibly beautiful friend of mine. "If ever you offered...I mean, what kind of an idiot would I be if I said no to you?"
"Yeah, I know." Tami's well aware of her charms, and isn't afraid to flirt and flaunt.
"It's your call." I try to keep my posture and voice neutral, not wanting to influence her one way or another. In my mind, of course, the train of thought is on a single track.
Tami stands there, the wheels turning in her mind. "I think I need to get away from our friends in order to make this call. Walk me home?"
"Sure." At the very least, it buys us ten minutes to ponder. "I'll get my coat."
I meander back inside and gather my things. Harry gives me a quizzical look. "And?"
"I'm walking Tami home. I may or may not be back."
Harry gives me a thumbs-up. "Good luck. Though I don't think you'll need it."
I can't help but smirk. Here's Harry, trying to rig the game, and the outcome is still up in the air.
"Something tells me I will."