Chapter 3: Unexpected Company

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been on more dates than I have been in the past thirty six years of my life. Yes, with both guys. I’ve been on more dates with Antonio, but just as nice dates as with Albert. Why is my life being so complicated right now? It makes for great music though, I must say…

Over the past two weeks, I have learned so much about my two guys that it's making my decision even harder. Antonio, six-foot-one, short dark hair, brown-eyed gentlemen, who owns his own clothing brand, is an amazing guy. Albert, six-foot-four, bald, blue-eyed, soft touch, music producer. Like any of this makes it any easier for me? Is it time to roll my eyes at life yet?  

I still haven't made a choice, I still haven't picked a date. Taking Antonio and chance running into Albert would just clearly end things with Albert, and possibly Antonio. Taking Albert, photographed, live television, Antonio watching at home wondering why he isn't there, seeing me on the screen with another man. I have a lose-lose either way. I need to snap out of my mind and enjoyment and… pick one already.

I’m going into town today to meet Chad and Joe for lunch. They are well aware of my current situation, however obviously they’re going to be biased when it comes to Albert. Just the same way Amy thinks every guy she sets me up with is the “one” for me.

As I walk into the restaurant to meet up with them, I glance over to the table to see, none other than Albert. Seriously, do they not have any boundaries? Since when were they friends with Albert? I thought that he was just some guy that they chat with at the gym and occasionally hook me up with. Really? Life seriously couldn’t get worse.  

I think to myself, taking a deep breath, I should just turn around and walk out of here right now.

As I glance back at the door, it’s such an easier way out today. I notice that Chad stands up waving me over. Albert turns around and sees me. He gets up out of his chair and walks over to me, wrapping his arms around me giving me the biggest hug. It’s been two days since we last went out. He’s acting like it’s been two months since he has seen me last.

I feel completely uncomfortable at the moment and try to do all I can to just not make it awkward. We walk over to the table, Albert pulling out my chair. I usually do not drink during lunch, but today may just be the exception.

“Could you possibly get me a glass of wine?” I ask Albert. He gets up and goes up to the bar.

“WHAT… are you doing?” I look at Chad and am very irritated by this choice of company.

Chad looks so confused and replies, “I didn’t think it would be a big deal. We were all at the gym and I told him we were heading over to get lunch with you. I figured I’d ask him to join.” Chad leans in, quieting his voice, “I thought you two were doing well?”

“We are,” I glance over to the bar and notice that Albert has obtained the glass of wine and is heading our way. “It’s complicated. I’ll explain later when he's not here…”

Albert sits down and places the glass of wine in front of me. “What did I miss? Anything about me?”

I pick up the glass of wine and take a sip. Looking up at him and smiling, “Nope, nothing.”

We place our lunch orders and sit and chat for a little bit until our meals come.  

Where’s the unfriend button today? I swear if Chad opens his big mouth one more time, his foot might find a new home on his body.  

“Ari, did you get your dress for the Grammy’s yet?” Chad asks.  

Eye roll in my mind. “Why yes I did, I told you the day I got it.” Nothing could seriously make my life worse at the moment right? Chad, Chad could make my life worse at the moment.

Albert chimes in… “I’m sure you look amazing in it! Just like everything else you look amazing in!”

I smile at Albert, he truly is a very sweet guy. Chad, on the other hand, says one more thing…

“So do I need to get my tux out or did you ask your brother this time? Or Amy?” Chad asks.

I’ll tell you what, that door looks like that would have made a better continuation to my day than what I am going through at the moment.

I finish gulping down the rest of my wine. “Albert… is there any way you could maybe hook me up with another glass? Or a glass of Jack Daniels!” At this point I am so frustrated. If only Chad would have just brought Joe, and not invited Albert, we could have had this conversation and filled everyone in on my dilemma, in which they are completely making it worse.

Albert walks on up to the bar, looking confused.

I lean in towards Chad and tell him if he opens his mouth one more time about the Grammy’s, he will NEVER go to another. “I haven’t asked him. I haven’t talked about it. You do know about my dilemma right? Albert… Antonio… The fact I want to smack you right now!”

“Whoa, um I didn’t realize it was a big deal. I figured at this point it’s literally next week and you would have figured it out.” Chad, dazed and confused look came over his face, probably worse than I have been acting this entire time at lunch.

“Shhh.” I say as I see Albert returning with not only a glass of wine but a shot.

Albert sits down and places the glass of wine again in front of me. “Here you go sweetie.” Still holding the other glass in his hand. “I also have this in case it’s needed!”

I pick up the shot and drink it. Albert clearly knows something’s wrong. “Is everything okay?”

I really didn’t want to do this, especially not now. I needed to think it over. “I’ve just been dealing with some…”

The waitress comes with our food. Great timing. She begins to place our meals down in front of us and our conversation abruptly comes to a stall.

We do make small talk during lunch, basically about the gym, daily life, and again… the damn Grammy’s.

This feels like the longest lunch ever in life. I feel like I’m on a date and my parents tagged along. Sitting here eating, I try to think fast and hard about what I actually want to do.

I glance up at Albert, who happens to be looking at me. “I have to tell you something. If you hate me, I’m sorry but I’m so just done with it all and want to be okay with myself.”

Albert glances harder at me, confused as to what I’m saying.

I continue, trying to make eye contact with him as much as possible because I’m truly trying to be sincere. “The day I went to get my dress, the day you first called me, I stopped to get coffee. I started talking to this guy there and we chatted for a little bit while we had our coffee. This was before I called you back.” Like it mattered that I added that, now it seems like I didn’t call him back because I was with another man. “We exchanged numbers and have gone out a few times. Yes, this was all while I was entertaining the fact that I liked you as well. I’ve literally gone my entire life and felt lost when it came to relationships, guys, dating, everything like that. Now, I’m in a dilemma with two really great guys.”

Chad and Joe, finally have muted themselves. Chad, you mean you don’t want to chime in anymore and put that foot further into this mess you caused right here at lunch?

I see Albert starting to look sad. Not so much mad, just sad. “You have to understand, we weren’t exclusive, we were just going on dates. We haven’t even had that conversation that you wanted to be my boyfriend, neither did he and I. None of us went any further than the occasional kiss. I don’t feel like I cheated on anyone, but I didn’t want anything further to happen with him and I or me and you before I figured this out.”

Albert for sure looks like he just got dumped. 

“I’m torn because I like you, I like him. I don’t know what to do. I was really hoping to be able to think about this more, alone, instead of sitting here with an audience and putting you and myself on the spot like this.” I reach for his hand.

I can feel how tense he feels at this point. Like he wants to pull his hand away from me. “How long were you planning on letting this continue?” He asked me.

I felt so guilty, I looked guilty. “It was literally going to come out in the next day or so, I didn’t expect it to now, now that I feel like Chad just threw me out there,” glancing over at Chad, angrily.  

Albert shaking his head. “I understand. I guess my question would be now, who?” He makes complete eye contact with me without blinking or leaving my eyes.

Still confused as hell, looking into his eyes, trying to force a smile… “I’d like it to be you.”

Albert, still confused, “How do I know that you’re being sincere and truthful right now? I mean you have been seeing two guys during these past two weeks.”

I give him a “you gotta be kidding me” kind of look. “Albert, I’m sitting here with you, AND Chad and Joe. If I truly didn’t mean what I’m saying I would have walked out the door and ignored this entire dilemma. Believe me.”

I feel Albert giving my hand a little squeeze. “So when Chad made the joke about whether he should get his tux out or if your brother got to go, that was really a dig at which of us got to go with you?”

I wanted to burst out in laughter because, if he had only known the truth he wouldn’t have just said that. “Actually,” I snicker, a light but not full laugh, “no, it wasn’t. Chad and my brother usually take turns going to award shows with me because I haven’t had a boyfriend in, I don’t know, like twelve years. It’s just so complicated to go alone to these things. I would like for you to accompany me this time though.”

Albert still looks confused and unsure. He looks up from my hand and answers, “I’d like that.” Smiling at me he leans in to give me a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Are you sure?”

I look up at him, into his eyes, smiling, “I am.”

So that just happened. And now as I start to gather my belongings and go to get my keys out of my bag I notice that my phone is lit up with a missed call; from Antonio…