What the Crap is Dating?

An ex-coworker of mine who is male and let me push him around invited me to a baseball game via the hated Facebook.  He's a little younger than me but I thought it would be a fun outing.  Trying not to be too naive, as I know men and women can never just be friends, I accepted on a friend level.  I would shank him if he tried to put the moves on me and dress as unattractively as possible.  Ponytail, oversized khakis, thermal, flip flops.  Done.

Now, the Beard is a nice guy and all but I had some trouble not being my normal work ice queen self.  He wanted to pick me up and I threatened that I would have to kill him should he discover my lair.  I drove to his complex and let him drive from there.  I knew he was in AA but the breathelizer in his car still shocked me.   I politely clasped my hands in my lap and looked the other way.  The game was fun, he was funny, but my back was starting to hurt from trying to be social.  And I wanted a beer.  But I can't drink in front of a person who has been sober a year and a half... that would be wrong.  But it's everywhere!  Men shouting out "Ice cold beer!"  This kiss camera lit up the stadium and the Beard laughed about whether we would get shot and I gave him the most withering look of repulsion that could come naturally to my face.  I felt bad about this later, afraid I insulted him.  Oh well, at least our seats were amazing and the Diamondbacks won (a rare occasion.)

We had a nice platonic hug before I headed home and I thought, maybe that was just a friendly outing.  No sparks or moves or suggestions.  I could deal with that.

The following week Anastasia, who still works at my ex-job, texted me shocked that I had a date with the Beard and not notified her. 

ME:  Was not date.  Just friendly baseball game.

Anastasia:  Men and women cannot be friends!  How was it!?  He could be good for you!

ME:  Was NOT date.  If it was it didn't go very well seeing as he hasn't contacted me since.  LOL!

And I truly thought it was funny for the first time in my life I hadn't analyzed whether or not someone liked me.  I texted the Beard a week later requesting he hit the Mormon kid I used to antagonize in the head with a ball, to which he responded with said Morman's pissed off pic.  And in what I assume was a strategic nudge from Anastasia, he asked to hang out again.  In a week and a half.  Friends make plans that far in advance and I assumed I was safe.  We agreed to educate me on the series Dexter.