Steve goes on a date.

 In spite of my first bungling connecting with a guy, I turned that mistake around. He was very understanding when I explained me being a newbie at dating again, he said not to worry. I had started an email thread and we were going back and forth getting to know a little about each other. He was eager to meet and I understand why, sometimes guys will string you along for weeks but never meet with you. Meeting would be difficult for me but I decided I had better do it otherwise he would grow tired of me if I kept making excuses.

 His work was actually on the way to my work so meeting would not be that difficult. He kept telling me his after noon hours were flexible and kept wondering when we could meet. Sunday, I asked to meet with him over lunch on Tuesday  and he agreed. Yesterday I was so nervous my stomach felt sick but in the evening I told myself that he seems to be a nice guy, that nothing will probably come out of the meeting but hopefully at least a friendship will, and I just need to relax. This morning I wasn't terribly nervous, I felt good about it, I picked out something special to wear to hopefully look a little extra "dateable" I had a new Chaps shirt just waiting for a reason to be worn, I even got a haircut.

 Driving in to the city I was a little nervous again but I still felt good, as I said, I wasn't going in to the meeting with any expectations, that way if something just didn't click, we would part ways and that would be it. I thought it would be nice to make a gay friend and maybe he would introduce me to other gay men. Suddenly a thought hit me and it scared me. What if he is the one, what if you find yourself back in a relationship, there's much more regarding the dynamics of a couple than a single person.

 I wasn't sure about the coffee shop so I arrived early, there were others similar to it and I was a bit confused. He wasn't online yet so I couldn't confirm. I googled it and I seemed to be in the right place. I found it strange he wasn't on line, he usually is around noon. He also didn't check last night to double confirm. I sent him a message I was there early and waited, we were not supposed to meet until one. Looking out into the parking lot I had this image of a familiar man sitting on my car hood, he was shaking his head at me, letting me know he felt sorry for me, it was Mr Bean.

 "He's not coming" Mr Bean said in that funny voice of his, "you should have called this post, Mr Bean goes on a coffe date". Pointing at his watch it read seven minutes past one, even though he was only seven minutes late, I knew in my heart he wasn't coming. When I looked up, Mr Bean was gone. I waited until 1:30, then got something to eat and left a few minutes later. He seemed like such a nice down to earth
guy and was so eager to meet, of all the scenarios that played out in my head, positive or negative, the thought of him not even bothering to show up was not one of them.