The Friendship

The ex-boyfriend and I have decided to be friends. As an appropriate amount of time has gone by (according to Charlotte's break up philosophy), I figured that two mature adults could handle this. Thinking that public places are best for such reunions, I suggested a movie. Unfortunately, my timing was a little off and the only movies he hadn't seen were playing too late in the evening to remain awake for them. Instead, we decided on dinner and renting.

The dinner part was easy. Good conversation -- mostly about work -- over pizza and cups of wine. No mention of our dating lives now. No problem.

Then, it was movie time, and here's where it gets tricky. We've done this routine over and over, but it usually involves cuddling, hand-holding, or other annoyingly cute things couples do. When the routine changes, it becomes painfully apparent. I sat on one side of the couch, he on the other. Oceans of tension between us. For two hours, my attention went not to the movie, but to whether or not he meant to brush my foot or move two inches closer. It was a long, slow movie.

When it was over, I jumped up, stretched, yawned, and headed for the door. "Want to get together again soon?" he asked. "Sure," I replied. "But let's go running."

His mouth said, "Great idea," but his smile said, "Say no more." We always did have that unspoken understanding between us.