"Is this as awkward for you, as it is for me?"
I hope that by shooting the elephant in the room, we'd have a little space to breathe. Horton's internet dating stories never mentioned uncomfortable moments like this. They always started with him being a douche, doing something stupid, and fucking an overweight chick with big knockers. I shoot a glance at Tammy Sue's pretty blue eyes and slender runner's legs, and wonder if awkwardness is my punishment for having standards. This point in my life is no time for standards. In the wake of my first and only loving relationship, I should be sticking my key in every possible lock. Who cares what door it opens?
I spend the next four seconds reviewing the past two hours:
Two hours ago I woke up unusually early for a Sunday, and rushed out the door for my first online date. The throbbing hangover in my head made me question if "watching the 1pm Bills game" as a first date was a good idea. The throbbing moved from my head down to my half erect cock as I take a look at the bra and panties pic she sent me Saturday evening. Why is it, that the pounding of one's heart beat feels so good in the phallus, but so bad in the neocortex?
Back to the present. More than fours seconds have elapsed since I spoke, and she finally has the courtesy to respond,
"Uhhh, yeah, this is kinda awkward, haha."
Wiser words never uttered.
The pounding is now in my heart as I realize there is no easy escape. I hate awkward moments. I just drove an hour south of my home in Buffalo to pick her up from her small bumblefuck town where "there's more cows than people." I am growing irritated that everyone from Cheyenne County loves to say that phrase, as if "more cows than people" something to be proud of. I hate country girls. In New York City I could make up an emergency, hail her a cab, and retreat to the comfortable solitude of my bachelor apartment. Right now, the only escape will involve another awkward, silent, hour-long drive back to Tammy Sue's cowtown, which seems far more nauseating than sitting on the couch with her. The things single people do for sex. I flash through my mind the mistakes I could have corrected to have stayed happily not single. I miss Carly. Let me stop thinking now. Thinking too much is dangerous.
Last night, setting up this date seemed like a great idea. Being newly single, I jumped on the opportunity to meet up with a blonde cutie from the internet. We started messaging early last week. Within a few days we were texting and exchanging photos. She seemed very gregarious via electronic communication. Last night, without any request from me, she sent me black and white photo of her posing in a dark lacy bra and matching silk panties. My appetite was whet. She asked me to reciprocate. I responded with "Why don't we meet up tomorrow and you can take a picture yourself?" I become aggressive when aroused. I went to bed last night with a stiff erection and the thought of what an outgoing nymphomaniac she must be to send an unsolicited underwear picture.
In person she was anything but. I parked outside her house around 12pm and called her cell phone to announce my arrival. All I heard in response was verbal static.
"What?" I said.
"...." she mumbled again.
"Huh?"
"I said, I'll be right out!" She finally squeaked.
I made a note to to get the volume of my phone fixed. Once in the car, I observed that my phone wasn't the problem. Tammy Sue spoke in an inaudible whisper reminiscent of the new girl in kindergarten introducing herself to the class. I wasn't expecting to deal with an auditory issue. My only concern before the date, was in the visuals. At least that wasn't an issue. Tammy Sue had bright blue eyes and fair blonde hair that were not apparent in her muted online photos. She wore a pink spaghetti strap tank top under a hooded sweatshirt that was just tight enough to show her hour glass figure. Her ratty white-washed jeans over flip flop sandals fit in perfectly with the country girl stereotype I had already conjured in my head. Now only if she could talk...
Being extremely quiet myself, I'm not used to interacting with other shy people. The entire car ride's conversation consisted of me making comments and laughing at my own jokes while all she did was smile and look down. Not fair! I'm supposed the be the quiet one. By the time we reached my rented house in north Buffalo, I was seething at Tammy Sue for forcing me to carry the conversation. Carly would always pick up my slack with her hyper-social nature. Tammy Sue was giving me more work to do. Two introverts can't be expected to have a comfortable first date.
At this moment, these two introverts are sitting on my couch in silence. I've already forgotten our last conversation thread. Kelley Sue sits silently in my periphery. She seems content to stay speechless for the next fifteen minutes too. I'm starting to panic. In uncomfortable times like this, one must seek the counsel of wiser minds. What would an extrovert do? As the Bills game goes to commercial, I offer to get Tammy Sue a glass of water and go to the kitchen to text Horton for advice.