Call it a hunch........

A couple of weeks before my trip to NC I get an email though match from someone. His subject line was "Call it a hunch" and his email went on to say how he read my profile, blah blah blah, and really thinks that we have things in common and he would like to talk. I read his profile, he's cute, seems funny, but he's a little older than I would normally date. I send him back a quick, generic email and call it a day. Next day there is another from him. Then another, and another....... I answer them all but still don't think that I will meet him. I enjoy the exchange though and find myself waiting for the next email. After a couple of days he asks for my phone number. I avoid the question and don't give it to him. He is persistent, but not annoying. I mention that I don't see him giving out his number....... He calls me a brat (which I am!) and gives me his number. He says he knows what usually happens when a girl asks for a number but doesn't give hers in return. He says he hopes I prove him wrong. I don't call him but a couple of days later I send him a text. It is my way to give him my number without actually giving it to him. Bratty? Absolutely! He calls me that night. It is the night before I am leaving for NC and I haven't even started packing. I wound up talking to him for over an hour and since I STILL had no real intention of meeting him I was my true, silly, a little crazy self on the phone. I enjoy the conversation very much. We talked about rediculous things and nothing of major importance. It is easy. We laugh. I kinda like this guy...... Anyway, I'm leaving for NC and we talk about talking when I get back. While I'm away he calls me. I was actually excited when I saw his name come up on caller id and we talk for about half an hour. He would like to meet me when I get back. I'm thinking I would like to meet him too now! I get home and we talk. And talk. And talk. We are now talking almost every night and getting to know each other in this somewhat unconventional way. I think we must have talked for over 20 hours before we had our first date! He has become a part of my evening routine and I know that when I have the house settled and I'm ready to sit and relax he will be calling me. So we plan our first date. He will pick me up and take me out and wine me and dine me. It will not be a "let's meet for a drink" but a REAL date. I like that he knows the difference and I'm starting to feel a little nervous about meeting him! We have such a great connection already but it's only over the phone. Can it really be real that I could like someone that I have never met? We know a lot about each other and there is never a moment in the conversation that I feel uncomfortable. So we have a date set. Now we have about a week before the date night and we agree (on a daily basis) that it is longest week known to man. Will it ever end??? FINALLY it is date night! He comes to pick me up and there is a cute nervousness between us both. It is so strange to finally be standing in the same room as him!!! He gives me a great big hug and a quick kiss hello. We sit on my couch and chat for a few minutes. It's almost silly that either one of us would be nervous since we have literally talked every single day leading up to this night! He tells me he has something for me and goes out to the car to retrieve it. He returns with a gift bag FILLED with little goodies (all wrapped in paper towels which I will never let him live down!) In the bag are various items that all have some silly meaning to us. I love that he has paid so much attention to the silliness of our conversations and took the time to put together this little gift of sorts! He is now really embarrassed that he gave me this bag o'fun and I reassure him it is awesome! I too have something for him, but it's not wrapped in paper towels (or anything for that matter). I whip out his very own copy of Goldmember on DVD since he mentioned he didn't yet own a copy and it is one of my faves! We talk for a few more minutes and share a couple of short, but nice, kisses on the couch. We head out to the restaurant he has chosen. Valet opens the door and we head inside. The place is great. Reminds me of another place I love and I feel instantly at home! We find a couple of seats at the bar and he orders us a round. He suggests an Appletini and I figure what the hell! We sit, drink, talk, laugh. Before drink 1 is finished, he is standing and is playing with my hair. It is nice, comfortable, very enjoyable! He realizes that this is date 1, drink 1 and sits back down. I ask him to please not stop! I am enjoying the attention and he is super adorable! He orders another round and we get a little closer. I am really enjoying this and if we never sit down at a table and eat, that is A-OKAY with me! He has been talking about how good the food is here though so we decide we should maybe grab a table and some dinner. He takes care of the bar tab and we get up. As soon as I stand I realize the effects of 2 Appletinis...... We sit across from each other at the table and now the distance is painfully obvious! He mentions it and I agree! He thinks we did it backwards, that we should have sat and ate first and then got cozy at the bar! Either way, I am happy and enjoying the company! We order dinner and talk about the people in the dining room around us. We make up stories about some of them and laugh at others. I love the ease of our conversation and how comfortable I feel with him. He is eager to share his meal with me and I am happy to accept the tastes he is serving up! He is an only child so his willingness to share impresses me! We finish dinner and he decides that across the table is just too far away. He gets up and joins me on my side of the table. The waiter here loves us because every time he comes to the table we are laughing! He presents us with dessert menus. The first item is an after dinner drink called a Cock Burn. I lose it! We order no dessert and head back to the bar for a final drink. Appletini 3 goes down waaaaaaay too easy and now I am beyond tipsy. Valet brings the car around and I sit my drunk self down. I don't want him to know the extent of my buzz so I play it cool. We listen to great music on the way home and he reaches over and takes my hand. At one point he pulls the car over to the side of the road and kisses me. He said he couldn't wait. I was glad, I didn't want to wait either!!! We make it back to my house and I invite him in. I am not worried that things will go too far. I trust him. As crazy as that sounds, I do. I feel like I know him forever and I feel safe. We sit back on the couch and he puts his arm around me. We talk and kiss and snuggle for what seems like a short time. It is almost 3 am and he needs to head home. I wish he could just stay put on my sofa but I know that this has been a very unconventional first date and eventually I have to get back to reality!! We say goodbye and I flutter up the stairs to get ready for bed. He calls me to let me know he is home safely and I fall asleep immediately after we hang up. I'm on cloud nine......