Be Careful What You Ask For...

My sister, as she listens to my biological clock (which I have yet to hear) tick away, is on somewhat of a mission to find me a husband. She found what she thought could be "a potential" in a bar in Orlando, and promptly became my long distance matchmaker. After questioning The Potential about his age and marital status (37,divorced), she found him to be a perfect match for me, and told him she has a sister who would be perfect for him. I can only imagine the images and thoughts that must have been going through this guy's mind...of the unattractive, overweight, ugly duckling older sister who has a "good personality" and is "nice". He took my number and told my sister he was going to wait 3 days to call. According to his word, he did.
Three days after my sister excitedly called me telling me to expect a call from The Potential, I'd already written him off, assuming he was too fearful to take a chance on the possibility of the ugly duckling. I was wrong...as usual. He called. We talked. He was polite, articulate, engaging. And had a pretty sexy voice. But there's only so much you can tell from a voice... we needed visuals. He asked if I'd like to exchange photos via email...I enthusiastically accepted, much to what seemed like his extreme delight. I mean, I knew, in all likelihood, that I was in the clear...and upon laying his eyes on my cyber image he'd be head over heels for me. Because not only could my personality never be so blandly and meekly described as "nice", but my looks would never be described as "ugly duckling"...she shed her feathers long ago.
We made plans to meet during my upcoming visit to Orlando to celebrate New Years with my sister, her fiance and friends. It was New Years Day. I was hung over and couldn't have been more tired. When The Potential called at about 5 to confirm our dinner plans, my sister and I reluctantly looked at each other and decided: the show must go on. After all, I was leaving town the next day and this was our opportunity to meet and see if the sparks flew.
After my sister, her fiance, and I peeled ourselves off the couch to get ready, we embarked on an unusual and highly unrecommended experience: a double first date. Before encountering this awkward beast of a foursome, it seemed like it would take the pressure off of the whole situation. We were wrong. It was all about "dinner conversation", as opposed to The Potential and I actually being able to talk with, and get to know, one another. We all had good intentions, but that's a mistake I won't make again. On first dates, I fly solo. The whole experience was neither here nor there. I couldn't tell if the guy had the slightest interest in me. After a foursome of awkward goodbyes in the parking lot, we went our separate ways.
As my sister, her fiance, and I analyzed the night on our way home, The Potential texted me....cute, flirtatious texts that took me by surprise. Then he called and asked me to lunch the next day.
Lunch was a big improvement. We sat and talked, one on one, long after we'd finished eating. Every time it seemed like the conversation was wrapping up, he started on another topic. After two hours ticked away, I decided I needed to hit the road...so I wrapped things up... an unintentional power play.
It was about three in the afternoon when he walked me to my car for the usual awkward goodbyes. The sun was blaring down on us as we told each other what a good time we each had. He told me he really wanted to see me again, but in the same breath referenced, not for the first time, that I live far away. I told him I'd like to see him again too, and that two and a half hours is not THAT far away. He conceded. He gave me a hug...a nice, tight, lingering hug, and asked if he could kiss me. Not sure why it took me by such surprise...I am pretty irresistable. And they don't call me the Kissing Bandit for nothing! "They" meaning "me". So, we kissed. With tongue. In the middle of the parking lot. At 3:30 in the afternoon. With the sun on our faces. Totally sober. Even at 36 life is full of new experiences! Then he kissed me again. And then told me I should get in my car before he didn't let me leave.
And he thought my sister was setting him up with the ugly duckling!
During the last 2 months we've exchanged a few texts and spoken twice after playing ridiculously lengthy games of phone tag. I mean, there's not a lot I have to say to this guy at this point, beyond, "Yeah, I've been working a lot and dating a lot. What have you been up to?" I really don't know him...we had one awkward foursome and one 2 hour lunch that ended with a parking lot lip lock. It's not much to go on...without having more face time. So, when he called me after I hadn't heard from him for...I don't know, maybe 3 weeks that seemed like three years already...I let it go to voicemail. I'm not looking for a pen pal, or a phone friend. Instead of returning his message and embarking on what would have likely become another extended game of anti-climactic phone tag, I decided to take the bull by the horns. I waited two days and texted him, asking when he's coming to visit me...saying that face to face will be a lot more fun than phone tag. He waited the obligatory 2 days and texted back, asking what weekend is best for me. Uh oh. Looks like The Potential is coming to town....