When it comes to your first in-person meet-up, learn from my mistakes and DO NOT GO TO LUNCH. (Or dinner.) You really don’t know if you will have good chemistry with someone, and eating a meal is a big awkward event if you don’t click, or they’re weird. I don’t know why I continue to make this same mistake over and over, but – I’m a sucker for sushi. So, when Charming Tinder Fellow suggested we meet for a sushi lunch date, I broke my rule.
Bad idea.
We ordered some rolls, and made some small talk about the weather before he announced that he had something a little strange to ask.
“What are you doing next weekend?”
It was a little too soon to tell if I’d be open to a 2nd date. This question, itself, made me a bit uncomfortable.
“Umm.. well, no definite plans as of yet.”
“I’m asking because I have an extra ticket to Hawaii.”
Whoa. So many questions ran through my head. Who has extra tickets to paradise laying around? Why is he asking me? We’re maybe 15 minutes into knowing each other, does he really think our sushi order went that well? Free trip to Hawaii, what’s the catch?
“You………. what?”
“I told you it was strange.”
“Why do you have an extra ticket to Hawaii? Who was supposed to go with you?”
He became a little hesitant, but then let me know that the ticket was intended for his now ex girlfriend. She had dumped him a couple weeks prior.
Our dialogue after that moment became a quick blur. I said something about appreciating the offer but not knowing him very well. He said something like it would be a good opportunity to get to know each other better. I told him I’d have to think about it.
We continued to make awkward small talk until the sushi arrived.
After just a few bites, I looked up and he seemed upset. Were those tears in his eyes, or did he order the spiciest sushi roll of all time?
“Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, trying to compose himself, “it’s just that I was going to propose to her on this trip. I just can’t believe she left me…” (and a bunch of other stuff that I can’t remember.)
I’m a pretty quick eater, as a general rule, but I have never hoovered down sushi so fast in my entire life. I excused myself to the restroom, gave the waitress my credit card to pay for our lunch (it was the least I could do.) and wished him luck and high tailed it on out of there.
This would have been a much better, and cheaper, experience if we had went for drinks instead.
His flight takes off tomorrow. I really want to know if he convinced a near stranger to go.
Soon2BeCatLady 
You’ll just be taking the place of my ex who I’d hoped to spend the rest of my life with. i’m sure the trip will be baggage free, no pressure.
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Lol….rebounders
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Okay, yes, this was awkward but obviously he’s a sweet guy to plan a proposal in Hawaii for his ex. Bad timing, but maybe he could be a good match after he finishes crying about that other girl.
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Gosh, I have to take a moment to read again and ask was it a real date or extract from a novel your composing, who in hell makes that kind of offer after 15 mins in meeting a complete stranger?
I am single and the more I read this the more I enjoy sushi alone, you certainly maintain a level head in this fantasy world, I love Disney tales too and the happy endings, the fact you walked out and not run means you were thinking about it lol.
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At least you got a date from tinder? I could think of so many over naming a for this ‘dating’ app
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Funny with an interesting turn of events.
Thanks for sharing!
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