First Date

So I got up, rather reluctantly, on Sunday around noon. As much as I was looking forward to hanging out with Bill, I definitely could have slept for another 2 hours. I hopped in the shower and started getting ready. Around 2 o'clock, Bill texted me that he found a good spot to watch the game. I was in the middle of putting on eyeliner, so I didn't respond right away. A few minutes went by and he texted me again before I'd gotten the chance to write him back.

"You still down to watch the game today?"

"Yep! That sounds good." I wrote quickly.

I ended up being a couple of minutes late, so he was already sitting down with a bucket of Miller Lites when I got to the bar. The Bears game was on the big screen to my left.

"Hey!" I said as I pulled out the chair across from him.

I apologized to him for being late (doggie issues) and he handed me a beer. We didn't really pay very close attention to the game, because we were talking so much. He asked me a lot of questions about school, and I asked him about his job. He's an account executive at an advertising agency, just like Mad Men!! Lol.
At one point, he mentioned he liked to play golf and I just about spit out my drink.

"I hate golf!" I said.

"How come?" He asked.

"Uh...well I guess I should say I just hate thinking about golf."

Bill gave me a puzzled look.

"I used to have a friend who played golf and wanted to be the next Tiger Woods. It was all he ever talked about." I quickly took a swig from my beer.

"Does this friend happen to be an ex?" He asked.

"Uh...yea." I admitted. I didn't really want to get on the subject of Brandon, but he asked.

"So how long ago was that?"

"Oh, a long time ago. Like 2 years, maybe a little more." The words actually surprised me when they came out of my mouth, because they were true. I still can't believe it's been that long.

"So how long were you guys together?"

"I dunno, like a year?"

"That's a long time."

"It is?"

"Well, yea..."

I smiled. Guys always think a year is the equivalent of purgatory or something. When really, it goes by pretty fast.

"I don't think it's that long," I said, "I mean really the length of a relationship depends on how much time you actually spend with a person."

Then we got on the subject of long distance relationships, and how they tend to drag things out that otherwise wouldn't have lasted a month. Then we ordered shots. Just one each, but I needed a pick-me-up cuz the food was making me sleepy. Our conversation shifted to much lighter things for a while, until the 3rd quarter of the game, when the Bears were still losing and Bill started cringing every time he looked at the TV. There was a rather large group of really loud, boisterous dudes sitting near us too, and every time they yelled or cheered we both felt like we had to duck for cover.

"How do you feel about ice cream?" Bill asked randomly.

"Like...right now, or just in general?" I said, surprised.

"Right now. I want some ice cream. Let's get outta here."

I laughed, "Isn't it a little cold for ice cream?"

"It's never too cold for ice cream!" He said.

"Ok, well there's a Baskin Robbins a couple blocks away."

"Yes!" He said, "Let's go."

So we paid our tab and headed out. We walked companionably and close, and talked easily the whole way there. He bought our ice cream cones and then we started to walk back in the direction where we'd come from.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"I don't know." said Bill.

"Well I really need to get dog food. Do you wanna go to Target?" I asked.

"Sure." He said.

So we walked to the nearest CTA stop and hopped on the train. He said next to me, and we whispered and giggled about the couple across from us who were arguing. We postulated about what they could be possibly fighting about. He put his arm around me.

Our trip to Target was probably the shortest I've ever had to that store! Lol. And Bill carried my 25lb bag of dog food for me, all the way up the stairs to the redline stop.

"I can carry that you know, if you want me to." I offered.

"No, I got it." He said.

I smiled.

When we got up to the platform, we walked all the way down to the end, behind the stairs, where there weren't any people. We both set down our bags and Bill pulled me in for a kiss. I was a little self-conscious because there were still people that could see us, and I'm not really big on PDA, but I kissed him back, tentatively at first. Then I looked over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. Lol. I don't think anyone was, so I kissed him again. Just a short kiss. He's so tall! I had to actually stand on my tip-toes to kiss him. Such an amazing feeling...

Then the train came and we sat together again. It's weird sitting next to someone on the train. I ride it every day alone, and I'm always reading a book, or absorbed in my own thoughts. So it's a totally different atmosphere with someone sitting right next to you.

Bill got off at my stop and carried my dog food all the way to my place. Both of my roommates were in the living room at the time, so that was kind of awkward cuz I couldn't even offer Bill a seat. So we took Jasper for a walk instead. We walked for a while, not really saying much, just companionable silence. I think we were both getting pretty tired. When we got back to my back gate, Bill stopped.

"I think it's time for me to head home."

"Ok." I said.

He kissed me again and then whispered, "When can we hang out again?"
"I don't know!" I whispered back, cuz it was true!
He kissed me one last time and then pulled away. I watched as he walked down the alley toward the sidewalk before going through the back gate.