So lately, I’ve found a lot of girls seem more approachable or easier to talk to in a random setting. I suspect everyone is feeling a bit starved for human interaction right now, but I digress.

In the past week, I had at least two interactions that I feel like could have led to a date or exchanging of numbers, but I just didn’t see how. I can’t think on the fly.

  • Situation #1

I locked myself out of my apartment, with nothing but my phone. Fortunately, my landlord is nearby and gave me a spare set of keys. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a fob to get into the main entrance.

So I saw a woman just about to enter the building, and just asked something like “hey I’m sorry, I’m apartment X. I just locked myself out; are you able to open the entrance?”

Turned out, she was just visiting a friend in the building (said it was a girl friend at some point) but said absolutely, to come with her. Well we both struggled trying to use the call box to get in, and started joking and laughing when some old asian ladies went through the entrance next to us, and sort of gave us the stink eye when we asked if they could let us in.

Her friend eventually buzzes us in (not long, 3-4 minutes probably), I say thanks, and I start walking away. Turned out she was headed the same direction, get on elevator and punch my floor, ask which she’s on, and it’s the same one. Small world, right? Anyways, I just actually introduce myself, so does she, we get off and I just say “well thanks again, you were a life saver”, she says no problem”, and we just go out separate ways.

How could I have turned that into getting a date or a number? Maybe something like “You were really a life saver. Let me return return the favor, maybe with dinner?”

  • Situation #2

At the grocery store, not getting much. I honestly don’t drink much, but randomly felt like something up, so went to the beer section. Another girl is there about the same time, we both pace back and forth a couple of times looking around, and I crack some kind of joke, asking what she’s looking for. She laughs and we just have a short chat about what kind of drinks we prefer. I ask her recommendations (I drink mostly bourbon, not familiar with a ton of beers), she points out a few, commenting one “always leads to a bad night”. We talk a bit more, she mentions I should check out another place nearby with a better selection, and leaves but says she hopes I enjoy the beer she recommended.

Again, maybe it was just a pleasant little interaction, but maybe I could’ve turned it into something more? Maybe like “Well in case this beer is terrible, what number should I call to share my complaint to you?”

  • More than just “what would YOU have said”, I’d also just appreciate the general mindset you have when how to word asking someone out. Do you “ask” for a number, or just hand her a phone and sort of keep talking? Any particular strategy?

Anyways, if this seems stupid or I sound half-retarded... well that’s about how I feel sometimes. This stuff just really doesn’t come naturally to me, but I’m trying to at least practice to get better.