and..."EX"hale

Yikes...I thought I just saw my ex-boyfriend in my office! I was on my way out for lunch and I had to do a double take. We have some auditors in working with our accounting departments and this guys profile totally threw me...I thought I was staring at my ex...never mind the fact that he is a journalist and wouldn't have any reason to be here. I was struck with that perfect mix of panic and embarrassment! However, the story of our parting is actually somewhat humorous...after the fact, of course. I was plenty peeved at the time. What? Yes...of course I'll share the story!

It was actually kind of fateful to be honest. It would have been almost 3 years ago to the date that we met on a dating service. It just so happens we had met on the same service 6 years prior, at which time we went on a handful of dates and then just kind of broke up without really breaking up. That seems to be our history, unfortunately. So, we decided to get together (again, about 3 years ago to the date) and see what happened this time around. We discovered what had happened 6 yrs prior...we had both met other people and ended up in somewhat long-term relationships (for 2 and 3 years). So, we began dating again. Now, I should preface all of this by saying that I was (as I still am) quite broke at the time and on top of that, not driving...a nasty repercussion resulting from my 2nd D.U.I. (yeah, not great times for me). So, he was quite accommodating given all of these circumstances, alongside the fact that he lived about 30 miles away and did all of the driving. So, I guess the fact that we dated for 5 months is a bit miraculous in and of itself. Not to say that I didn't pay for ANYTHING but I believe I figured out what led to our eventual demise after the fact. Our last date was on a Saturday afternoon/evening. He drove the 30 miles to pick me up, we then drove to a theater that was another 15-20 miles away (in the opposite direction) to see a movie. I had about $15 to my name at this time, but knew we were seeing a cheap movie, since it was at the return theater...I wasn't worried. I paid for the movie (woo hoo...big spender that I am, I think it was $4). We went for dinner afterward, at his suggestion, and he picked up the tab and also left the tip. Ok, I should have offered to leave the tip, but come on! So, I have since figured out that it was the return trip home that led to me demise. We were close to my place when suddenly he said 'Whoa...I better get some gas before heading home, I'm dangerously close to empty'. Now, rather than proceed to drop me off since we were just a few short blocks from my house...he asked me where the closest station was, then turned around to drive several miles in the opposite direction. I now know that this was a test to see if I would offer to pay for the gas. Clearly, I hadn't the money. However, being that I did still have about $10, I ran into the store to get coffee and bread, while he filled up his tank. Our good night exchange was less than warm, the kiss was barely near par and I walked into the house, completely oblivious but sensing something was off. So, I have since figured out that he must certainly have deemed me a cheap bitch. However, rather than just come straight out and tell me that, he just completely stopped calling me altogether. I believe I called him twice after that and the first time, I came to learn later on, he flat out lied to me. He stated that he was going to be on assignment for a weekend activity which had actually already taken place the previous weekend. I hadn't even asked him if he wanted to get together...he was just cutting to the quick before I could. So, basically the boy had no 'nads' whatsoever and chose to just be an ass instead. I was bitter and pissed for a long time, and I was pretty good to him in those 5 months. For instance, we had been to a used record store where he spotted a 'Lenny Bruce' album (he collects L.P's) that he really, really wanted to get, but didn't want to spend the $50 for. I knew he was really jonesing for it because he walked all the way over to me at the opposite end of the store to show it to me. It was actually pretty cute. So, remember...I'm not driving now but I still made it a point to take the bus to downtown MPLS to purchase this album for him (with $50 I most certainly did not have). I gave it to him for no particular reason, along with a cutesy little lovey, dovey card. He was touched, I know...and the parting was much warmer that night. That also ended up being the date before our last date and the last time I thought I had seen him, until today...when I thought I saw him, but didn't really see him. Capiche? Funny story though...I crack myself up sometimes!