Would A Business Lunch Rekindle An Old Flame?
My ex-girlfriend called me recently.
It was completely out of the blue – I wasn’t even aware she had my number because it’s been a while since we went out, more than a dozen years, I dare say – but I must admit I was as pleased as I was surprised.
We had parted on good terms, as I have done with all the girls I have dated for any length of time. My relationships don’t end with broken hearts or a big thud, they just kind of, well, end. We say goodbye, agree we had fun together and part ways, often never to see each other again.
I did see this girl a few times afterward but the past few years our only contact was a very occasional e-mail.
And I really liked this girl when we were dating. More so, I have realized later, than I even knew at the time. In fact, she’s my all-time favorite, #4 on my list of Top 10 Reasons I’m Still Single.
She called, tho, not for romance or to rekindle that ‘ol flame, but to bring me into a work project which had come her way. And after a few weeks and many phone conversations and texts – and not all for business – we finally had reason to meet out for lunch. We were to be with the client, so there would be no footsies under the table or cute flirtations.
Still, I was anxious to see her because I still have a thing for her. What that “thing’ is, exactly, I don’t know, but I was anxious to see if my heart would flutter, my feet would patter, my speech would become erratic. I was not sure if the original spark would come flying out of one (or both) of us and set the place on fire, or we would look at each other and simply shrug our shoulders.
I did not not know what would happen romantically, did not even know IF I wanted anything to happen romantically.
I do know that I was somewhat unsure of how to dress. I wanted to look nice, but not go overboard with the threads. I was trying to weigh this against how I thought she would dress – full business or leaning more toward casual. (When we went out, it was always casual because, well, I live at the beach!)
How does one meet up with an ex-girlfriend (or ex-boyfriend for that matter) after a dozen or so years and act in public, especially at a business function? Do you pretend nothing ever happened and do your thing and depart? Make a few light-hearted comments about when you were together?
Had she informed the client we were involved? I’m guessing she’s mentioned it, but to what degree?
For fashion, I went with a button-down shirt and stylish jeans. For her part, she was dressed with a jacket in business attire, smart, but with a casual flair.
The atmosphere was a mix of business and casual. She made a joke when I mentioned I have a friend who lives in the client’s area – “you have a friend!?” – and I replied (out of the client’s hearing range) that I’ve managed to carry on through life in her absence.
I bit my lip a couple of times when the conversation turned to some things my ex- likes or does not like. I wanted to really tell stories about her personality, for she’s quite the unique individual.
So. it went well but I’m really looking forward to seeing her in a non-business situation. Perhaps we’ll play footsies under the table. Or she will get mad at me for something I did a dozen years ago.
Cheers!
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