second date

It is 10pm, and I have never been so happy to be back home.

Let me tell you about my second date with Nick.

He meets me on the corner of Armitage and Bissel (no hug, no handshake and am feeling like we have reached an understanding). We walk to his car parked on a side street a block away. He opens the door for me. I lean over and open his door. He gets in and proceeds to lean in for a kiss. I throw up a hand, pull back and say:

Al: I am not ready for the kissing just yet.
Nick: Are you sure?
Al: Uhhh, yeah. (yikes - this is going to be a long night)

We drive to pick up some wine (restaurant is BYOB). He proceeds to tell me about Chilean wine. (okay, lecture 1 has begun, but at least it is about something I am interested in).

We drive to the Costa Rican restaurant in Bucktown. Nice, small, neighborhood place. I think I am going to like it. All this time I have had my phone on vibrate in my back pocket. He puts our name on the waiting list and says he is going to step to the restroom. I take this moment to begin my texting.

Al to J and K: I am in hell.
J to Al: Hang in there
K to Al: Want me to bail you out?

We have dinner. Costa Rican food is quite good. But I have a hard time telling you how it is any different than other South American food. But it is good. Conversation is fairly good. He asks passingly about my rehearsal, I ask passingly about his job. Somehow we cover the subjects of James Bond (lecture 2) Shakespeare's Henry I and II (lectures 2 and 3).

We have flan for desert.

He steps to the restroom. (again? really?) I take the opportunity to text:

K to Al: R U okay?
Al to K: I'm fine. Hopefully it is almost over.

The check comes. We decide to split it. (there is no fighting my suggestion of splitting it. For him to at least fake a "I wouldn't hear of it" is expected - but not done. We both put a credit card down. We keep "talking" (read - lecture). They clear our plates - we keep "talking". I decide it need to take things into my own hands.

Al: Do we pay here or take it up to the register
Nick: I'm not sure.
Al: Well, I am going to step to the restroom. If they don't come back by the time I get back, lets take it up.

I go to the restroom and take the opportunity to text.

K to Al: Don't pucker up. Ha Ha.
Al to K: I already said no.

Check is still there. The waitress comes by - we learn we have to take it up to the register and they are cash only. I pull out a $20. (I have about 6 singles still in my wallet) Thank god I stopped for cash last night. Nick says: "Crap."

He pulls out a five and 3 ones. Eight bucks toward a $35.00 check. But, luckily there is an ATM.

Nick: Well, I'll put all of this in ($8) you can put that $20 and the rest of your singles in. Then I can either walk 4 blocks to the car to scrounge up some change for a tip, or you can go to the ATM.

I am totally stunned. I cannot speak.

I go to the ATM. I take out another $20 (and pay a $4 bank fee). I put my $40 on the table, add some singles for tip. I think we are about set. I hope we are about set.

Then he tells me to take the money up to the register. Then he tells me to be sure to get a bag so he can put the leftover 1/2 bottle of wine in for our walk to his car. Then he tells me to carry his leftovers as we leave the restaurant b/c he needs to carry the wine.

He drives me home. Actually, to the corner of Bissell and Armitage. He pulls up to the hardware store on the corner. I say thank you for showing me a new restaurant and cuisine. (I can't say thank you for dinner b/c I PAID!). I unbuckle my seat belt. He leans in:

Nick: Are we still doing the no kissing no touching thing?
(he kisses me)
Al: Well, I think that is going to be about it. Goodnight.
(i get out of the car as fast as possible)

I can't believe it. I had to say "no" to him kissing me, get lectured about multiple topics, paid for both of our dinners, got kissed again against my will, and still was home cross-stitching by 10pm.

I thought dating was going to be about getting dressed up, getting free meals, and going to movies. This is not what I signed up for...

I don't think there is going to be a third date. Even for practice.