The Date

I washed the truck and ran some errands Sunday. The extra hour provided by daylight savings time gave me plenty of time. I decide on a blue button-down shirt, jeans, black ankle-length boots, and a black jacket for my date. I was going to wear a lightweight trench coat, but it looked too formal. I love trench coats. There is nothing cooler than a long jacket. That is why they are used in movies and TV. 

Ava texted me about an hour before the date and said not to rush, but she would be arriving early. I asked her what her ETA was and told her I could work with that. The night was warm for November. We arrived at the same time, and I gave her a quick hug in the parking lot.

Ava wore a dark pink winter jacket, an off-white long sleeve knit sweater, and jeans. The hostess sat us right away. The restaurant was crowded, but there were no lines of people waiting. It was loud inside. My ear was not bothering me that night, but I worry I will have trouble hearing in such environments anymore.

For the record, Tinkerbell was wrong. Ava is not in her thirties. She is turning twenty-nine next week. She showed me her license after I revealed my own age. My age didn't phase her. If anything, she seemed surprised I was older. 

The conversation flowed during dinner. I haven't figured Ava out yet, but she is not the typical girl I am attracted to.  She is a lot like me in the way she treats others. She is thoughtful and not afraid to take charge and make plans. This makes me anxious. It takes me out of my comfort zone-- the familiar. 

Ava watches what she eats closely. I am guessing, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out she struggled with her weight when she was younger. She is self-conscious about her looks and her body, yet she is a pretty girl.

After dinner, she suggested we drive to the grocery store across the street, pick up something for dessert and head back to my place. Which is precisely what we did. When we got back to my condo, I gave her the tour. Then, we sat downstairs and continued talking. 

At some point, Ava suggested that we grab some water and head upstairs. She undressed and got under the covers before I arrived. This is where I get the feeling Ava is uneasy about her appearance. She preferred the lights dim. In my experience, the younger girls are more willing to have sex right away. The Gymnast and Firefly were driven by the desire for quick money. Ava seems more like Bunny, who wanted to establish a connection before intimacy. 

Pick-up artists say it takes around seven hours over the course of two or three dates for a woman to feel comfortable sleeping with a man.  Ava would have had sex with me Sunday, but I felt there was still a level of comfort missing.  I told her we didn't need to have sex. We did some petting, kissing and got comfortable being around each other. 

I am struggling with Ava.  She does not trigger my savior complex. Yes, that is a good thing. It is just foreign territory for me. I am determined to let it play out and give it a chance. She has a week-long trip to Florida planned for her birthday. She leaves on Wednesday. She wants to come over Tuesday before she goes-- for "dinner, dessert, and fun." She has already offered to pick up dinner on the way.