I started lurking on seddit a few months ago after a significant LTR in an effort to learn to be a better me, and to gain some skills to get myself out of the funk I've been in (LTR hangover if you will). I wanted to post this field report, because this was honestly the first time I said "fuck it," and decided to be the awesome me that I am and go with the flow.

Background on Me: 25 years old; 5'7"; athletic, but I wouldn't say I'm built (wrestler turned triathlete who likes to drink now -> little soft); at one point I could talk to just about anyone/anywhere and have used that to a major advantage in my career, but my last relationship pretty much hammered my self confidence and I totally reverted for a while.

Background on Her: HB7.5. We exchanged numbers about two months ago, but after I initially called her, she blew me off for a few weeks and I never heard from her. She then randomly contacted me via text a few weeks ago me and I told her I was busy (I was, but that was besides the point). This weekend she texted me again, so I decided to meet her for drinks when she got off of work.

FR:

It was about a thirty minute drive to get over to her side of town, and as I was pulling in she texted me to let me know that her girl friends from work would be joining us for drinks. At first, I was a little pissed, but then a light went off! I was stressing over one girl, when this situation added even more opportunities...win! I also decided while sitting there in my car, that I was going to make something happen. I didn't know what that something was at the time, but I wasn't going to be the depressive, sad-sack I had allowed myself to become recently.

I walk in to the bar and she's sitting in a booth with two of her co-workers, so I hop in the seat next to her and we go through the usual round of introductions. At this point, I would like to admit that I remember talking to her much at all, but I really don't! I spent the entire time chatting up her two friends about totally random crap: crazy party stories from random pub-crawls around town, which cut of jeans best fit my athletic behind (with modeling demonstration), their disgust with "men" because of their "douchebag ex-boyfriends" (but obviously not me, because "[I'm] incredibly fun, and obviously have it together"). At this point, it was obvious that my main target was getting a little frustrated not being the center of attention, so she grabs my hand to direct it to her new tattoo on her inner arm. I grabbed her elbow, pulled her in close, and spent a few minutes running my hand up and down her inner arm getting the lay of the land and then pulled her back into the conversation.

Fast forward about 30 minutes, I pay for my drinks, and we're all leaving. She had driven with her friends, but looks at me and says, "You're taking me home right?" I told her that I didn't drive all of the way over there to go to bed so soon, and we were going to stay out a bit longer. However, I was unfamiliar with the area so I let her know she'd have to pick the place. We drove around for a bit trying to find a spot during which I escalated kino in the car (hand on knee, eventually moved to hand holding/finger games and my hand on her inner thigh). We ended up driving around to the point that everything was pretty much closing down (suburban hell in a no Sunday sales state), so I just decided to go for it and told her, "Well, it looks like we're going back to my place then" and turned the car that direction. (I knew that her place was a no go, details aren't important).

When we first got back to my house, I let my dog out of her kennel to keep my date occupied while I gathered supplies for some shots/drinks. After the first round of shots, I grabbed her an initiated a make out session by the bar. After a few minutes we moved to the couch and I put on a movie while we had a cocktail. She made a few comments about how cute and sweet my dog is, to which I replied that "she's not going to like you in the morning, because she holds a grudge when she get's kicked out of my bedroom for the night." Her immediate response was "Oh really? What makes you think I'm staying! I don't even have anything to sleep in, I'm still in my work clothes..." I cut her off and told her that "we both know she's not sleeping in any clothes tonight anyways, so it's not like that's a real issue." At that point, she pulled me in and we made out for a bit. After twenty minutes or so, she let me know she was tired, so we moved the night's festivities to the bedroom, and that's where I'll end this story.

Other Thoughts:

There are a ton of things I could have done differently, and they are already fresh on my mind. This experience was a huge kick in the ass though to keep growing as a person and has given me a taste of the old me. One of the things I've learned from seddit to this point is to always be improving myself, so I'll be sure to post any updates.

Thanks seddit!

TL;DR: Finally manned up; f-closed a flake.