I got a late start this morning (still exhausted from the red-eye flight and staying awake for dinner with Easy Rider on Monday), so I was running behind by the time I got up, and I desperately needed to get some work done. Hence no time for a shower, no time to go grocery shopping. I wolfed down some rather questionable leftovers in the fridge, and finally just decided to skip the shower, instead working like a maniac right up until the time I needed to leave to go running. After all, who cares, right? I'm about to go running and get sweaty. So what if my hair is a bit greasy, my shirt an unflattering high-necked long-sleeved thing I dragged from the laundry? I'm just going for a run, and will likely just see a few old friends. No biggie. Right? Right? Yeah, I think you can see where this story is going...
I end up racing to the run a bit last minute, and was quite flustered and hectic as I arrived trying to sort my things and figure out where I should be. So you can imagine my surprise when I got a hug from behind, and turned around to see Cute Non-Drinking Guy!! Obviously he'd spotted me come in and made an absolute beeline for me, and so I greeted him with an enthusiastic hug and a kiss. I hadn't seen him in about two months, so this was an absolute delight. And oh yeah, my hair was totally greasy and I was sweaty and looked a wreck. Just my luck, eh?
I unfortunately had to cut our enthusiastic reunion short, as I needed to drop off my things, although I quickly found him again once I was outside. I did get tackled in a hug by Pork Pie, a wonderfully loud guy and dear friend who just returned last week from a few months in Nepal. I gave him a big kiss and greeted him with, "Hello, sweetie!", only belatedly wondering what Cute Non-Drinking Guy might have thought of that, so did spend some time explaining quite how wonderfully crazy Pork Pie is. He did seem amused by my tales of how we had subjected the poor children of Nepal to such an absolute maniac, but that's part of the delight of Pork Pie.
We set off running together (I actually managed to keep his pace for an impressive period of time, but I found a narrow pass to graciously fall behind a bit after a while), and even at every check and pass, he always returned to me, happy to talk and socialize. He always seems to have a sixth sense for my presence, as he was constantly coming up behind me and surprising me, or just finding me wherever I was.
At the end of the run, we both stopped short of the pub and kept talking for ages, pausing only when I went inside to get water, and then we went back to our happy chatting. Admittedly, I realise that I talk much more than he does, as he responds only to direct questions and queries, yet seems so incredibly happy to see me and talk to me, laughing his head off at my stories (which I will admit flatters my ego). He's self-confessed that he's tremendously shy and not terribly social, but yet when he's with me I can't quite see it, he just seems like such a delight. It's so strange.
I made it into the pub and got a pint of water, and then when back outside got distracted by talking to a few other randoms, but before long worked my way back into conversation with Cute Non-Drinking Guy and a few others he was talking to. We eventually made it to the circle upstairs, standing together and talking, until finally as usual he left early.
Yet as he said good-bye to people, shaking hands with everyone (he's weird like that) I asked him when I would see him again, trying to hold in check my frustration, for I already knew the answer, as it had never varied any time I'd seen him: In a month. Never suggesting we meet up sooner, never saying he might come next week just to see me. Always, it's in a month.
And then he kissed me, once on each cheek, but in a slow, deliberate way that I swear made my skin tingle and my breath catch. Damn, I really do not understand this guy. As the chemistry between us is so blatantly obvious, my cheeks literally hurt from smiling every time I talk to him. And unless I'm imagining things, he really seems to like me too. Yet he's never going to ask me out, never do anything but wait until he runs into me again. {Sigh!}
Still, a while ago I decided that instead of letting his confusing behaviour drive me crazy, I'd just appreciate the fact that there was a guy out there who made me smile so much my face hurt. Indeed, I do feel more happy and light-hearted after every time I see him, like he's this little dose of sunshine in my life. And who doesn't like having their own personal bit of sunshine that makes them happy every time they see them?
After he left, I got a pint and caught up a bit with friends I had been too busy ignoring in favour of Cute Non-Drinking Guy, got a signature from Princess that I needed and shared some hugs and random conversation with Pork Pie. We talked excitedly about the upcoming election and having dinner at Lord's. He's mental, but I adore him so. Still, I had to cut out of that conversation early to go home with Marjanne so she could give me her keys so I could feed her cat at the weekend.
A good run overall, but that will teach me to at least wash my hair next time!
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