Taking Life with Chances

Speaking of dating-ish, there is currently a small development on that front: a crush.

I get the pleasure of seeing this person fairly often because they work at a place I frequent. Over the two years I’ve lived here, we’ve had plenty of friendly banter, and I think some flirting. Although I’ll be honest, I’m terrible at picking up on that sort of thing.

After chatting with a few friends, I’ve been encouraged to do something very simple — ask them for a cup of coffee.

Of course, on the exact day I worked up the nerve to do it… they weren’t working.

For the record, it’s not really the fear of rejection that makes this awkward for me. If they said no, I wouldn’t suddenly stop going there. What gets me is the actual asking — the fumbling over my words, the awkward delivery, the moment where you have to put the question out there.

I already get a little blushy and giddy when I see them, which probably isn’t helping my chances of sounding smooth.

Gosh, this was so much easier in my twenties. I’d be bellied up at my favorite pub, spot an attractive guy, and just buy him a drink. It was kind of an unheard-of move at the time — you were supposed to wait for the guy to buy you the drink. But it was my go-to move, and sometimes the only thing that came from it was a fun conversation… but somehow it always worked out one way or another.

Somewhere along the way that bold version of me got a little quieter.

But earlier this year, I told myself I was going to make myself uncomfortable a little more often. And apparently, this is what that looks like.

So at some point soon, I’m going to take that bull by the horns and ask them for coffee.

We’ll see what happens.