The other night I was out with a girl for her birthday. I know she likes me, but for let's say reasons out of both of our control we can't get together, at least not now. I've been clear with her that even though we're not physical, I still want her (a fact I remind her of every now and then), and I stlil flirt with her incessantly.

We're hanging at the bar and I made some offhanded comment to her about how much she wants me. Couldn't even tell you what I actually said. Just something off-the-cuff. She looks me in the eye and with a little bit of a sneer, she says, "You really are a bit cocky and sure of yourself, aren't you?"

Now, old AFC-me would have backed down and made some kind of joke about how I didn't mean it. But instead, I just looked at her right back and said, "Well yeah. It's one of the things you like so much about me."

And then she leans in and says, "Yeah, it is, actually."

Guys. Hold your frame. Be who you are and don't apologize for it. And when you think a girl is calling you on your bullshit, that's exactly when you need to double down and remember that the second you become incongruous, your whole personality becomes unbelievable. In the case of this girl, I know she likes me, so why would I pretend otherwise? By holding my frame and not caving to her little shit test, I proved my worth not only in her eyes, but in the way she sees that I perceive myself.