Jeremiah (The Ball and Chain)

I met this guy at a singles volleyball tournament when we both decided to ditch to play basketball instead. It was also a friend-of-a-friend kind of situation. (Apparently "hey we both like basketball" + "hey we both know that guy" = match made in heaven.)

We exchanged phone numbers and about a week later he invited me to see the midnight showing of Spiderman 3 with him that evening. For the record... that movie was awful. Perhaps I should have taken that as an omen.

It was fun, but obviously not a date since his little sister and her friend tagged along, right? The following Sunday, he invited me over to play games with his family. Wait, does this one count as a date? I really couldn't tell, but it was enjoyable all the same.

Finally later that week, after I'd worked a long shift and gotten off at 10pm, he took me out to dinner. This one was a date. Unfortunately I had a massive headache and... I already mentioned that I got off work at 10pm, right? I had agreed to go under the conditions that it would only be dinner, but still had to turn down numerous suggestions that we go out dancing. Do people actually "go out dancing" and if so... should the guy be the one suggesting it? Either way, I managed to resist.

He had mentioned at dinner that his job required him to be in California during the week, so he wouldn't be back in town until the weekend. As cute as he was, I didn't realize how deeply this was supposed to affect me. The following Monday after getting off the late shift at work, I received a disgruntled text which read, "So what happened today? Why didn't you text me?" I gave him what I thought was the reasonable answer... that I had been at work most of the day like a normal person with any kind of life. "But, you didn't even ask how I was doing!" (We hadn't previously been in a "daily texting" relationship.)

Let me cut this already-too-long story short. A conversation ensued regarding that I would not make a suitable girlfriend due to my lack of concern for him. What the?! I ought to receive an award every time a relationship sneaks up on me. I had no idea I was so committed.

I suppose he still thinks he broke up with me. I personally believe I dodged a bullet.