He asked me out, planned dinner, and then suggested drinks afterward. We spent about three hours together. Those sound like useful clues, yet somehow I’ve come away from this first date with the confidence of someone reading a map upside down.
We met on Hinge. Over text, he was chatty, though a little awkward, and I wasn’t sure how attracted I was to him. In person, he was cuter than I expected. I enjoyed his company, which was a pleasant development for an evening that began with me feeling undecided.
Dinner went well. He asked lots of questions, made eye contact, and seemed interested in what I was saying. When he suggested drinks, we kept the evening going and walked around the city.
He was also noticeably shy. For much of the date, he held his arms or hands across his body, almost like he was hugging himself. In the car, he stayed tucked over on his own side. His hands remained under his exclusive management for the entire evening.
I teased him a little, but there wasn’t much flirting from either of us. He didn’t initiate any physical contact, including a goodbye hug. I’m used to men being more forward, so I couldn’t tell whether I was seeing nerves, consideration, or a perfectly pleasant lack of romantic interest.
Then it started pouring while we were walking. We got caught in the rain, and he drove me home afterward. The ride was comfortable, even without music. Apparently, we could manage a quiet car together. Whether that qualified as chemistry remained above my pay grade.
Once I was home, I thanked him for the date and the ride, said I’d had fun, and wished him a safe trip back. He replied that he’d made it home and was heading to bed because he needed energy for something he’d mentioned doing the next day.
He didn’t say he’d had fun, too, or suggest another date. I didn’t reply because going to bed seemed like a natural end to the conversation. Now it’s the next day, and he hasn’t messaged again. Everything is still on Hinge; we haven’t exchanged numbers.
I’m not particularly invested yet, but I’d be happy to see him again and find out whether there’s something there. I’d also like to see some initiative from him. So now I’m looking at a message that didn’t need an answer and wondering whether, somehow, it’s my turn.
