Sure bet?

It was after 11 PM by the time I got back into the house from the work event, and I had a good time. It was nice to see Quiet Girl, and I did get a chance to share the family news from a few weeks back. I got chatting to a few people, which kinda scratched the socialising itch that I've had for a while.

Also in attendance was Casino Girl. I've posted about her before here and here. I was up doing some casino stuff and chatting to her. When I returned to our table, QG raised an eyebrow.

"You're getting on well with that girl"

"Eh?" 

"Was she not flirting with you?" 

"I don't think so. She was just being nice. It's her job."

"Hmmm..."

"You disagree?"

"It looked like there was more to it than just being nice."

"I'm not gonna lie, I think she's cute, but she's also married if that ring's anything to go by."

"Ring?" QG looked at Casino Girl. "Oh. I guess not then."

And the night trundled on.

I was a little more drunk by the end than I would have liked, and I'm feeling really lethargic today, but I still had a good time. 

In the balance (cont'd)

Quiet Girl has decided that she will go to the ball*

I'm glad because I'd like to spend some time out of the house. And, just like last week, the pub offers opportunities to meet new people, chat to random people and, of course, Quiet Girl is good company.

I might even share the family news from a few weeks back. I'm not sure she knows. 

 *Work event. 

In the balance.

"Are you still going tonight, QG?" I asked over IM. We'd not swapped messages all week, and my pessimism around her attendance was ramped to 11.

"Mmmmm... TBD"

She followed up with an explanation.

"I had a crappy day yesterday. So I'll see how I feel later."

She's done this before and I was able to talk her into coming out. But I likely won't find out until mid-afternoon.

Wonderful.

I sent a message to KfW2:

"What are your plans for the weekend?"

It wasn't an invitation to maybe grab a drink, but a more general question. KfW2 loves Halloween, so I was betting there'd be a party or dressing up involved. I was right.

"I'm having a party, you should come up. But if you do, you have to dress up."

She knows I won't. She's invited me before. They tend to be two things: mainly family affairs and dress up parties.

"I'm at my sis's on Saturday, plus I don't have any costumes anyway!"

It's not a lie as such. I will be at my sister's at some point over the weekend. It's just not likely to be Saturday night. 

"I'll loan you one!"

"I'd look fantastic as Wonder Woman!" 

And now I'm thinking of KfW2 in a Wonder Woman costume. 

Shhhh...

For the past few days, I've had this niggling thought that Quiet Girl will decide not to attend this month's work night out. There's no reason for it. Quiet Girl, in the little we've arranged things, seems to be quite reliable. But we've had conversations in the past where she's admitted to cancelling meeting ex-colleagues because it would be her and one other bloke, in the pub.

At the start of the summer, QG was happy enough to sit in the pub with me while her husband wandered elsewhere. So maybe it was particular to the guy? Who knows. Maybe I'm simply over-thinking things as usual.

As far as I can tell, this Friday would be similar. While we would be surrounded by colleagues from across the company, it'll just be the two of us from our core socialising group. Would that give her the same concerns? It might... which is why I've not drawn attention to it. 

I admitted to USHW earlier that I was looking forward to Friday night, for the company and for the view. And with it being the night before Halloween, maybe lots of people in fancy dress.

What I can say for sure is that it's extremely unlikely that we're going to do our usual thing and end the night in CB Pub.

Que?

I'm strangely optimistic about this coming week for some inexplicable reason. There's nothing planned (so far) apart from the work event on Friday with Quiet Girl (and perhaps others). There could be more paperwork from the family stuff, but I'm waiting to hear back from a few people first.

And that's it. So I've no idea why I'm in such a good mood and actually looking forward to this coming week. 

About last night... (again)

A few weeks ago during one of my phases of surfing the online dating apps, I saw a profile that set something off. I knew that I recognised her, but I couldn't put my finger on where or how. The pictures gave off vague Nigella Lawson vibes. I stared at the pictures for a while, and the name definitely rang a bell, but the details eluded me.

I closed the app and went about my day. As sometimes happens, that train of thought ticked away in my subconscious and the answer popped into my head an hour or so later: she was FBS's husband's business partner. I don't think I'd ever met her, but I'd seen plenty of photos of their business online and some TV clips, too.

So, randomly, in the taxi home last night, FBS started talking about her. I admitted that I'd seen her on Tinder which strangely never drew any comments from either D or FBS herself.  But the conversation had changed from FBS sharing stories of a woman's disastrous online dating experiences to something else. A slight tonal shift but a shift nonetheless. FBS was describing the horrible time she'd had on Tinder and something else... was FBS trying to set me up with her or something?

She never said anything outright and I'd never offered my opinion on her as someone I'd like to date (attractive, but has kids and lives too far away for me). So by the time that D and I stepped out of the taxi, the moment was gone.

About last night...

It was a great night in the pub with FBS, D, Friction Guy and Opinionated Guy. I wasn't as drunk as I had feared, though I was still quite drunk. While I always enjoy our catchups, it felt like we laughed more last night than normal, though for no real reason. Age is catching up with us and so our health was the main topic of conversation. Out of the five of us, I am the only one not on regular medication.

FBS asked a guy sitting at the next table to take a picture of us, and I think it might actually be a decent one. I might ask her for a copy of it and see if it's any good. 

Let's go!

The chat about tomorrow night is ramping up. I wouldn't say that it's getting outrageous in terms of planning or anything, but it does feel like everyone's low-key excited to be meeting up.

FBS has posted several messages over the last few days about it and the latest, arriving just now, is a picture of her with a beer in her hand.

"Practising for tomorrow night!" 

In a conversation with USHW recently, I shared that my ability to drink had taken a real beating: weight loss and lack of socialising (i.e. pub time) had "ruined me". Only a few years ago, I'd happily drink half a dozen pints on a Wednesday night and not give it a second thought.

Now, on a night out with FBS, D etc. I reckon I drink about half a dozen drinks, and I am far too drunk. I don't like being drunk. I like having drinks. I like being tipsy. But not being drunk.

But I'm still looking  forward to it.

Pushing my buttons.

I saw a picture of actress Rachel McAdams earlier, though I don't think I've ever seen anything that she was in. It was what she was wearing that was what I noticed: a blue, front-button long dress. The reason that caught my eye was that I don't remember anyone else ever wearing one apart from FA2.

FA2 had a brown one that I loved. Well, not it specifically, but taking it off as part of foreplay. She wore it the night we christened BW's house after being in the pub. I remember it fondly: unbuttoning it from behind, from the bottom up, from the top down and even starting in the middle, when she had her belly button pierced.

It's the one piece of clothing I can recall her wearing a lot, presumably because she knew how much I liked taking it off. Plus, it was a dress. She didn't wear those often. 95% of the time it was jeans and a jumper or t-shirt/bodysuit, depending on the time of year.

Three's a crowd?

The chat in the WhatsApp group with D, FBS etc, has kicked off ahead of our proposed night out this coming Friday. Not a lot has been said, apart from D, FBS and myself all confirming that we're going out. Nothing from Friction Guy as yet, but to be honest, I think that we could make a night of it even if it's only the three of us. And I think if the other two can't attend, we would actually head out.

That'd be quite a good night out, I think. I recall the night where it was only me, FBS and Opinionated Guy and it was great.