Repost: First Dates & Bail Money

Picture available on Etsy.com

Picture available on Etsy.com

About a year and half ago I spent my birthday in Atlanta, GA.  My cousin offered up her mom's house, and I did the tourist thing.  As I exited the train station closest to my cousin's house, I spotted the cutest guy!  I mentioned before that I'm not the greatest with pick up lines.  We exchanged glances as we walked past each other.  I turned around and there he was staring at me.  The ATL air must have been polluted with bravery because there I was getting ready to go in for the kill.

I approached my potential beau and boldly said, "Can I take your picture?  Because they don't make them like you where I come from."  He smiled flashing me a gorgeous set of teeth.  After taking the picture, he asked if we could exchange phone numbers.

We text each other that night.  He called the next morning to wish me a happy birthday then sent me a picture of his perfectly chiseled torso.  Under normal circumstances, this behavior warrants Shania Twain's "That Don't Impress Me Much" to blare in all areas of my mind...but I was on vacation! 

My sweetheart and I made plans to see each other the next day.  He played semi-pro football and had a game that night.  I attempted to call him the next day but went straight to voice mail.  I called a bit later with the same result.  My cousin urged me to keep calling until he picked up (I HAD shown her a picture after all).  However, chasing a guy down relentlessly is not my style.  I flew back home that Monday without communicating with him again. 

As I showered that Tuesday morning, my spidey sense tingled.  Something inside me said, "You're going to hear from him today."  I was working the evening shift at a grueling job back then.  I glanced at my phone mid-shift and saw a text from my ATL sweetheart apologizing for his disappearing act.  He went on to explain that he was arrested that Saturday night which is why we were unable to get together.

I thought to myself, "Of all the excuses he could have possibly given, this is certainly the most pathetic."  Au contraire!  Because of my busy schedule I had not paid much attention to his message. Upon further review, it was actually a picture message of his release papers from jail and the text was simply a description. At least I know he was being truthful!

We never spoke again.