Zero

Ella came over Friday night. She arrived about seven-thirty. She forgot to text me when she was heading my way, but she did text a few minutes into the drive. She came in carrying a Yeti cup with a straw in it. Alexis does that when she is driving. Alexis has alcohol in hers. I think Ella does, too.

Almost immediately, we went back out to eat. We ended up in a popular bar in downtown New Baltimore. Our conversation was stiff. Ella seemed a bit distant. I usually have a good time keeping the conversation going. I watched Ella drink two margaritas in an hour without any effect. Remember, Ella is a small girl who weighs less than a hundred pounds.

When we returned to the condo, I suggested we head upstairs and watch TV in the bedroom. After all, Ella was supposed to be staying the night. Despite our discussion on Tuesday, Ella wasn't warming up to the fact that this would be a mutually beneficial arrangement. She kept her distance. 

After a TV episode, I looked at her and asked what we were doing. Ella indicated she was still on her period, one of the excuses she used on Tuesday. If you aren't able to uphold your end of the arrangement, then don't show up, or at least say something.

Ella said, "I thought this was not supposed to be just about sex."

"It's not," I replied, but she had already spent enough time around me to know that. 

Ella took offense and decided to leave... empty-handed. That was fine with me. I didn't put up much of an argument. Enough red flags were already showing through.

I have been waiting to hear back from Al lately, too. So, I am back down to zero for now. 

Ella

 The verdict is still out on Ella. She is hard to figure out. Nothing she says so far contradicts what I have learned about her. You have got to love the internet and the information age. She is 33 years old (she looks older). She is from Davison, and her social media do not show any signs of boyfriends. It is amazing if you give someone your phone number. Within days, you are asked to add the new contact to TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. I don't, but if their account is public, I take a look. I have stopped giving out my personal phone number. Instead, I give out my Google phone number to potential women.

Still, Ella has been out of a long-term relationship for 4 years, leaving her bitter against men. She doesn't give off a warm fuzzy vibe. She seems confident and a bit headstrong when she discusses her work at the senior group home, but we did manage to share a few laughs during our time together on Tuesday, and she still wants to get together on Friday.

She came over Tuesday in a knit tank top and short black shorts, with a black and white flannel over top. She looked outstanding. She has nice tan legs and an interesting roses and ravens tattoo on her upper thigh. We have yet to explore the bedroom. That should happen on Friday. She appears to be approaching this arrangement as a relationship. I don't mind that to a point, although it is a mutually beneficial arrangement at the end of the day. 

It is my need to know nature coming out. I am less likely to take people at face value the older I get. 

All Right Now

I spent Saturday cleaning the house and the Jeep. It was a quiet weekend, but we had lovely weather. Sam and I got dinner both nights if I remember correctly. Ella and I have been exchanging texts every day. She seems almost too good to be true. Monday night, she asked if she could get an advance. That was the first red flag. It doesn't look good when someone seems too good to be true and then asks for an advance. 

I told Ella I understand money can be tight at first, and if she wanted to get together sooner, I would be up for that. She said she was free tonight (Tuesday), and I told her that would work for me. So, things are still good with her. We are getting together tonight, and we still have an overnight planned for Friday. Saturday, she is up for visiting the Orchard trail or an apple orchard. I still have high hopes for Ella becoming a long-term arrangement.

In other news, I received a text from Al Sunday night.

Al: I'm back (crying smiley face).

Bathwater: Where have you been?

Al: Lol, I tried to work things out with my baby-daddy, but they didn't.

Bathwater: I am sorry, but at least you tried.

Bathwater: I just think you missed me (wink).

Al: You're probably right (angel smiley face).

I am not surprised things didn't work out with her baby-daddy. I wasn't expecting it to be so soon, though. So now, if Ella doesn't work out, I still have Al in my back pocket. It is good to have options for a change. I will probably get together with Al next week just to get her in bed again and let her know where I stand. 

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well, you might find
You get what you need
Ah, yeah... You Can't Get What You Want, The Rolling Stones

It Happens In The Fall

 It always happens in the fall. I met a new girl from online Thursday night. I will be calling her Ella. Ella is thirty-three. She is a very petite 5' 0" and very cute. We met at a coffee shop near Great Lakes Crossing Mall. Ella lives in Davison, which is over an hour away from me. The coffee shop was a good midpoint. 

We talked in the coffee shop for an hour. We hit it off right away. We have many things in common: road trips, music, TV, and life philosophies. She is not flashy or materialistic. She has a stable job and no kids or pets. 

Things went so well at the coffee shop that I asked if she would like to get something to eat. She agreed and rode with me around the corner to a restaurant in the mall. We ate and talked more there, then walked the mall briefly. We stopped in Buckle, where Ella tried on some jeans. She has a hot little body. She liked one pair of jeans, and I told her to get them. I ended up buying a shirt.

Because of the distance, I suggested she come to my place on the weekend and spend the night. Ella was perfectly fine with the plan. She seems very interested in the same things I am. A mutually beneficial arrangement with one person. That blurs the lines a bit. She loves the outdoors and wants to go on road trips.

We have been exchanging texts today. I am very optimistic about this girl. She is very empathetic and down to earth so far, and I feel a level of attraction on both of our parts. We have plans to get together next Friday, and I am really looking forward to it.