The X-Factor

Why do things get so complicated when there's an ex involved? It's bad enough when your date spits out this blasphemy on a first encounter, but when it prevents you from moving on with a potential mate, there is definitely no room for lift off.

If you read my last post, you may have twigged that I am of course talking about my recent romantic encounter. Or not so romantic as it turns out. I left you in somewhat of a dilemma, not knowing whether I should swallow my pride and contact my date after 24 hours of silence, or to play the waiting game.

Well seeing as though I've never been good at games, I went for the previous. I text my date on Tuesday asking when we should next meet, seeing as I hadn't heard a peep from him since Sunday afternoon. Usually I wouldn't have run the risk, after all what's the point in building yourself up to then be bitterly disappointed, but I blew caution to the wind and did it.

After all he was giving me all the right signals, up until Sunday, texting me as soon as the date was over, arranging another date. He seemed keen, and then just sort of fizzled out. So it was curiosity more than anything than urged me to initiate further communication.

You know what they say about curiosity.........well, they are right. I received a brutally honest response. Something on the lines of, his ex being back in touch with him and not wanting to make any arrangements with me that he may have to break. At least I got some form of reply, but it got me thinking: When is ever a good time to date when there is an ex still lurking?

As far as I was concerned, he told me it was over for a good 5 months previous to our meeting, and it was him who was chasing me. From personal experience, sometimes it's hard for the other party to let go. But if you've already let go, then that shouldn't be an issue. So I was clearly a rebound date for this boy to decide whether or not he was truly over his old flame. Obviously the torch was still being carried, and me, I was just left to burn out in the dark.

For my first date in a year, this doesn't bode well for future encounters, and for the time being, just for the record, I am completely off men!