No Promises in the Wind

Story Submitted by Ken:

I met Shelly at a party, and she was actually dating someone else at the time.  We spent time talking in a larger group, but as the evening went on, we all splintered off into side conversations.  Shelly's guy was talking to some other people while Shelly and I ended up talking to each other.

She told me that she hadn't been dating her guy for too long and things were going well enough, although she didn't really have me sold on that point.  Coupled with the fact that we were all a little buzzed, it seemed as though she and I had a lot more in common than she and her frat guy beau.

I gave her my number and told her to call if she ever wanted to hang out.  Regardless, I wouldn't have tempted her to cheat.  She just seemed like a decent person, and a potential good friend.

A week went by and I hadn't heard from her.  In fact, I had almost forgotten all about her when she called about eight or nine days after the party.  She said, "Okay, I'm all yours."

"You want to hang out?" I asked.

She replied, "No, as in, I dumped my guy.  We can be together now."

All I had been to her at the party was a concerned ear.  I didn't once mention that I'd date her, if given the opportunity.  Given that, I was a little surprised at her words and replied, "Let's play it by ear.  Want to meet up?"

She said, "Uh, okay.  That might be better than talking over the phone."

We met up for lunch at a cafe and she gave me a big hug.  We ordered food and she said, "So, I'm all yours, now.  I broke up with him for you."

I said, "You didn't have to do that."

She said, "No, I'm very serious about this.  From the instant I met you, I felt it.  We're going to get married."

I said, "We're getting a little ahead of ourselves, here.  We've only met once before in person, and we were both buzzed."

She replied, "So?  Our first conversation was like, four hours long."  It had, in fact, been closer to an hour and a half.  She went on, "We obviously have a lot in common.  Next thing is to make it official.  I broke up with a guy for you.  That should tell you enough.  You gave me my number and told me to call you when I was ready to commit to a serious relationship."

I cut in, "I never said that!  I said to call if you wanted to hang out."

She said, "You said to call when I was ready for something serious, like a relationship or marriage.  Did you forget?"

"No!  I never would have said that!"

Her voice raised.  "You did!  I broke up with a guy for you!  You said you wanted to get together and meet up and have something serious!  You did!"

I said, "That's insane.  I never would have said that to someone I had just met and hour earlier."

"You're the insane one," she said, "I can't believe you right now."

"You're putting words in my mouth that I never said, you-"

She interrupted, "You said that you really liked me and wanted a relationship and marriage and kids!  You really said that, Ken!"

"I didn't!"

"You did!"

She looked as if she was a second away from crying.  I decided to stop arguing.  Our food arrived and I ate.  She didn't touch a thing.  I paid for our meals (as I was planning to do regardless) and left her sitting there, frowning over her food.