So Monday evening, I check my email and I see I have a message from Juan Ortiz. This was a little confusing because I didn�t even remember giving him my email address. Anyway, I clicked on it and it was some boring forwarded joke. I decided that it could be interpreted in two ways. 1) I�m in his address book and he didn�t even realize it was sent to me. 2) He wanted to make peace. I chose the latter. So I responded.
Me: Yo, how�s the legal world treating ya? I hope fine. Take care.
7 minutes later�
Him: Hey, you�re online now? Have you got instant messenger? If so, add me to your list and let�s chat.
I did so, about 3 minutes later I clicked on his cyber name.
2FoxyFaYaAss: Hey, howz it going? :)
JuanCan: It�s going. Excited about the new job?
2FoxyFaYaAss: Yeah, Trace and I are going shopping on Saturday. We are talking da Big Apple. I have to look the part ;)
JuanCan: Oh, so you�re busy? Can�t find time to squeeze me in? :(
JuanCan: Still there?
2FoxyFaYaAss: Yeah. Amber�s parents are having this 4th of July party. You could come to that.
JuanCan: Too many people. I want it one on one
2FoxyFaYaAss: O.K how about tomorrow evening?
JuanCan: That�s fine. What do you want to do?
2FoxyFaYaAss: Surprise me. Just pick me up around 8pm. Gotta run. See you tomorrow.
Now Dairy, I was somewhat confused. After the �no-sex discussion,� and the way the evening ended, I thought that that was it for us. I just decided to wait to seeth whath Toosday bringeth.
Tuesday, we decided to check out a movie. I wanted to see �About a boy� and he wanted to see �Minority Report� so we compromised and saw �The Bourne Identity.� (I can�t explain the logic) If he had wanted to see �Juwanna Mann,� something �Tommy the Bastard� would have loved, I would have just walked out. The movie was fine and on the walk to his car we spotted a cute Ice Cream shop so we decided to get some dessert.
I can�t really describe my feelings as being those of discomfort, but what I shall say is this date was radically different from the first one. On the previous date, all I could think of was how hot he was. I certainly didn�t know that he was such an educated brother and I don�t mean book-wise. Who knew he loved to travel and be a �pretend native� and not a tourist? Whatever that means.
As usual, as he rambled on, my mind traveled elsewhere. The last I heard he was talking about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and while I was thinking about how many pairs of pants I could fit into my budget, I noticed he�d stopped speaking. I looked at him and saw he was waiting for a response. Not quite sure of the topic, I said,
�Yeah, but the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on for such a long time. I bet it�s no fun living in the occupied territories as a second-class citizen.� Thank God for magazines at Doctor�s offices.
He chuckled. �Ha ha. You are too cute. What does that have to do with Martha Stewart and insider�s trading? I take it you haven�t been listening�
Feeling rather ladylike, I blushed gracefully.
He looked at his watch. �I don�t blame you. It�s getting rather late.� It was about 10:47pm. �I have a few things to do tonight in preparation for work.� We left.
As he parked his car at the curb of my house, I said, �So, am I going to see you at Amber�s on Thursday?�
�Certainly, as I said, I don�t get Friday off so flying all the way to California for a day would be pointless.� He smiled. �And considering I�ve been here for less than 2 months, prior to your invitation, the only invites I got were from old foggies at work �and you know how much fun that could be. You�ve rescued me.� Huh? He�s new in town? He�s from California? I know jack about this guy. I really haven�t been listening to anything he�s said. And after last week�s fiasco, he just doesn�t seem as cute.
He walked me to my door.
�Thanks. It was fun. I am glad I caught you on Instant Messenger.� I smiled. But in all honesty, am I? This date was hardly on my top 40 list
�Me too.� He kissed me on the cheek. I put the key in the hole. He walked toward his car. After a few moments, I retrieved my key and called after him. He stopped and retraced his steps.
�Yes. Did you forget something?�
�Not really.� Sometimes it�s better to just end things before they get ugly.
I looked at him candidly, �I know I�m not the only one that thinks this isn�t working.�
He nodded. �Yeah,� he chuckled, �no point beating a dead horse.�
�Yes. You�re a cool guy but I don�t think we have that emotional connection.�
�True. But we definitely had a physical one but you had to spoil it with your celibacy nonsense,� he said teasingly.
I rolled my eyes and sighed, �Not that again.�
He got serious for a moment. �So am I still invited?�
�To?�
He looked hurt. �Your friend�s 4th of July party.�
�Why not? You�re the friendless guy. You need my help.� I laughed out loud. �Of course you�re invited. Feel free to bring some cute guys along.�
�Ah, cute guys. Sorry girl, they are either married or gay. Better luck next time.�
�Whatever.� I looked at my slightly ajar door. �You have to run. Remember, you have some things to do tonight.� I didn�t need Daddy coming out.
�Oh yeah, that. See you Thursday.� He gave me a warm hug and drove off.
I guess he is a nice guy. Too bad I couldn�t jump his bones� I am sure it would have been well worth it. So Thursday, he came alone. Trace, of course, was salivating like the wild dog she is. I told her he was too good for her, and as expected, she disagreed. I wish her luck with that.
The rest of the week was uneventful. Trace and I hit the shops. Janelle and �Timmy the dog� went down south for Janelle�s family reunion, and everything was everything. Big Apple here I come!!!
Femi, Sunday, July 7, 2002, 11:30am.
