The House Always Wins

Last week my friend Aaron from softball invited me to go to a Sox game with him and a couple of buddies. I weighed the options carefully... I have Fridays off, so I could either stay at home and play Candy Crush or have a fun day with some 35 year old party boys.


My decision was clear.


The morning started off with myself, Aaron and his friend- let's call him Vegas, because he used to live there- all having a few drinks and the two of them bombarding me with stories I could barely keep up with. Tales of drunken debauchery turned into Vegas explaining to us that he had a date with a 20 year old mother after the game... but as he so sweetly put it, "it's strictly a sexual relationship."

I silently put him on my, "he's cute, but no way" list.

Of course, drinking can always change a girl's mind. Over the course of the game (and a few beers) I found myself having a really good time with Vegas. We were cracking each other up, ignoring Aaron and his other buddy almost completely.

After five beers, I let him hold my hand.

After six beers, I let him give me a quick kiss.


By the time we left the ball park, I totally forgot that I had put him on the "no way" list. However, I was quickly reminded when he kicked us out of the car in the middle of the road because he was running late for his date with the 20 year old. As I climbed out of the car, he turned to me and said, "Hey, don't worry. I'm totally going to get your number from Aaron."


I'm pretty sure drunk Nicole said something along the lines of, "Fuck you" and slammed the car door.


Despite my angry outburst, Vegas DID text me the very next day to ask me out. Although I was nursing one hell of a hangover, we agreed that he would come over to my place later that night. But not before I made it crystal clear that I wasn't inviting him over for sex. As I so elegantly put it:

"I know your penis was in a 20 year old last night, and I'm not about that."

With everyone on the same page, he came over an we spent hours watching movies, talking, kissing, and cuddling. I felt so at ease right away with him, which was slightly frightening. Then came something even scarier: "So, are you looking for a boyfriend?"


The. Fuck? I looked at him like he was insane and stumbled over some answer about what happens, happens. Then I panicked. What do you do in this situation? Change the subject? "Oh hi, I now know you are interested in me past a hookup... but what is your stance on waffles?" So I did what I thought polite, and asked if he was looking for a relationship. His response? "Yeah, I am. And you seem a pretty good candidate."

Shit. I mean, I like him... but that's a pretty heavy conversation to be having the second time you meet a person. As a woman, I am constantly trying to find a man who can be more open and up front... who isn't afraid to let me know how he feels. Yet, at the first sign on someone being that type of person I get totally spooked. It's ridiculous.

He left that night explaining that he had a really busy week full of over time ahead of him, and that he would let me know as soon as he had some free time to see me again. And he has kept that promise. He's texted consistently throughout the week, and we have a date set up for Tuesday night. I am excited, yet slightly terrified he may propose- with the rate he is going.




On a separate note, Devil's Snare (who is mentioned briefly in some of my very early posts) reappeared out of nowhere this week. I haven't heard from him in close to three years, yet he suddenly wanted to take me out for drinks. This was honestly as expected as a teenage pregnancy.

I've agreed to get drinks with him (against my best friend's wishes...I think her exact words were "JUST SAY NOOOOOOOO!") mainly because this could get real hilarious, real fast.



So, let's make some Vegas style bets. Who will come out ahead by this time next week? What are the odds that by my next post they are both out of the game?


Time to show your cards, boys.