A good near miss

Yesterday's Independence Day eve festivities were amazing. Back-to-back events with friends started with lunch then an afternoon by the pool and straight into a BBQ at a different pool then an incredible fireworks show from a rooftop. But after all of that, it was only about 10:30 so we moved to the pub where it was packed. Luckily the usual hot July night was mild so I spent most of the evening on the patio with a little distance from the drunk crowd.

But the evening ended on an odd note. The group walked toward our places and the last block I walked alone until I heard someone yell my name. I turned around and it was a guy I know running up the street toward me. We had talked a bit at the pub since his girlfriend was with her family last night. Since he's such a big guy, he also helped break up a fight between two guys who were throwing patio furniture at each other.

I don't know him well but he seems nice enough. He's decent looking, has a good job and doesn't cause trouble that I've seen. And he's always nice. But the longest conversation we've ever had was the evening he cried about his ex while we sat at the bar. He told me how much he gave and gave and she didn't appreciate it. That conversation was pretty revealing and made me pretty certain I'd never be interested in him as more than a friend.

We sat on the park's rock wall and talked last night and he told me we were almost together. Almost.

"Really?" I answered. "Did I have any say in it?" And how did he know I was interested?

His answer threw me off. "I didn't out of respect."

Oh. Interesting. "What do you mean?"

"You are so sexy and I wanted to," he said. "but I respect you."

"You have a girlfriend," I said. "So it doesn't really matter."

"I know, and I love her" he said. "I still want to be with you but I won't."

He said he knows about at least one guy I've been with. It was his friend, and it was a huge mistake. The entire conversation was a little offensive, but I'm pretty sure he didn't mean it that way. So I didn't say much more.

What was there to say? It might be a fun night. He's a big guy and would probably know just the right balance of rough and gentle since I'm so small next to him. But as I told him, it doesn't matter. I already know I'm not interested.

Love to the single girls, and happy Independence Day,
Addison