In the Office

You know how sometimes you get into a relationship where you feel like you have to continually impress your significant other in order to keep him or her interested? I certainly do. I've been there numerous times and it's completely exhausting. Colton is NOT that guy. He makes it really easy to be me while he is him. We just kind of mesh really, really well.

The other day I had an over abundance of soup (don't ask, it just happens and I know Colton loves soup (and Macaroni and Cheese and PB&J sandwiches) so I told him I'd bring him some. He told me to bring it by his office, which ended up with us spending his last hour of work sitting in office chairs, talking about whatever. I met his coworker and got a feel for what he does all day. You guys, if I worked in an office at a cubicle, I would kill myself. I couldn't do it. So much boredom! But that's beside the point.

After an hour, it was the end of Colton's work day. His coworker took off and I helped him lock up. At one point he stuck his head out a door and looked around quickly before closing it and turning to me with a huge grin. "Hey, do you want to make out in my boss's office for a minute?" I dropped my purse so fast! We didn't do anything crazy, like sit on his boss's chair or desk, we mostly just stood in the office and kissed for a few minutes. But it was still awesome and fun and spontaneous.

This is what life with Colton is like. It's fun and not complicated and real. The best thing about this relationship is that it's real. We're honest with each other and we just mesh. Ugh. This is the life.

Limbo

There comes a point in a developing relationship where you have to decide where you're going. It's been a couple weeks since my DTRS with Colton and I've really become comfortable with where we are, which is not exclusive, but still pretty serious. 

We've had a few dates recently where we've gotten dinner and watched a movie. Of course these kind of dates also include kissing, which I've been trying to keep on an appropriate level. I've hesitated to ask Colton if he's been kissing other girls, mostly because I'm afraid that putting any sort of pressure on him will make him retreat from me. Has he given me any reason to think he'll retreat? Or that he is kissing other girls? No. But I'm scared all the same. I'm so scared that any time I find something good, it can be ruined in an instant. 

This weekend we got together and made dinner. We sat at the table after we are and had a really nice, deep conversation about some of the politics of the church and where we stand and where our families stand. We shared some personal stories. We talked about our childhood homes. It was a really great evening. After a brief time of kissing, we ended up snuggling together and I got up the balls to ask him about the other girls. He told me he's been on a few other dates, but he most certainly hasn't kissed anyone else. He said, "I would let you know. I would feel too bad about it and I would definitely let you know." This was a good segway into telling him something else that's been on my mind.

"Colton," I said, with my head resting on his chest, "I know you're going on dates and I know you want to take your time and be picky, but I need you to know I'm invested. I'm here. I'm in this. I want to give you your time, but I can't wait forever for you to make up your mind." 

He nodded and said, "I know. It just scares me. It's so much easier being single and only being responsible for one person's happiness. I never want to go through a divorce again." I understand. I totally get that. But he needs to know that I'm not just here for fun and I'm not going to just sit around forever waiting for him to make up him mind. Now he knows that. 

We still have a long way to go before we can be in a relationship, but I'm content for now. We've gotten to the point where we can say important things to each other. I know where he stands and he knows where I am. He knows the clock is ticking. 

I hope he doesn't take forever.

Six and a Half Weeks

Six and a half weeks. That's how long I've been seeing Colton. We've been seeing each other more consistently, yet we're still not exclusive. A few weeks back when we had our little DTR, I walked away feeling sort of settled, sort of not. I wasn't yet convinced that taking our time would be a good thing for us. I would feel those little feelings of desperation, so familiar to me, creeping up my throat, threatening to cling onto the words I'm about to say, threatening to turn me into the sad, clingy girl I used to be. Not today, old self, not today.

During our DTR talk Colton told me that he's not the type of guy who wants to be with someone every night. He explained to me that he sometimes really likes to have an evening to himself, so I shouldn't expect him to ask to see me every day. He said, "That doesn't mean I don't want to see you, though. That doesn't mean I'm not interested." I can totally sympathize with that. When I was dating Braden, he wanted to see me every single day. Sometimes it would get exhausting, always driving to Salt Lake to see him or making sure my apartment was presentable and that I had showered. I put off lots of errands, naps, and the like to spend time with Braden because I did what he wanted, even if I didn't really want to. So when Colton explained how he needs his alone time, I didn't question it. It's nice to have some time to myself while we continue down the road we're on.

In this past week, Colton has called me up several times to spontaneously get together. We've spent a record amount of nights together in one week, including a movie night with his friends. You guys, when a man invites you to something with him and his friends and he holds your hand in their presence, it means he really likes you. Like I said, we're still not exclusive but I think we're heading in that direction. I'm still in no rush. The crazy thing is it's been six and a half weeks and I'm content with where we are. Do you know how long my whole relationship with Braden was? Ten weeks. Ten whole weeks from start to finish. Holy crap. What a huge mistake that was.

But Colton? Things are good. Things are quiet. I'm so content.

What We Are Doing

Colton and I have been seeing each other for four weeks now. Four weeks and things are still just about where they were two weeks ago. 

Things got busy for a little while. Colton had some big things for work going on and I was down with a toothache. We saw each other just about once a week, one time on a date to the Sundance Film Festival, which was so much fun, and then again the next week in passing at ComicCon. 

I had a little bit of an unsettled moment this weekend, though. I realized that in all the time Colton and I have been spending talking and going on dates, we still haven't had a DTR. A couple weeks back we went on a walk one Sunday afternoon and we talked a little bit about going slowly and taking time to get to know each other, but he never said exactly how he feels or what he's looking for with me. Four weeks in and I'm getting curious. 

I let my curiosity get the better of me this weekend. I sent him a text pretty much telling him that I need to be on the same page with him, but I have no idea what page he's on with feelings and intentions. He apologized and said he'd call me after work. Great, a whole day to agonize over what he'd say. 

I theorized that Colton would tell me it's not really working and he isn't really interested. I convinced myself that he doesn't want a relationship. I convinced myself that it's over. I mean, of course there was a small part of me who hoped he would say all the right things and say he just wants to go slow.

You know what I didn't prepare myself for? Something in the middle. Colton confided in me a couple weeks ago that he has been married. He's been divorced for over a year, but he's  now extra picky and cautious. He said full disclosure, he's still going on dates with other girls, we aren't exclusive. I knew that. However, he said he's really enjoying spending time with me and he said he'd like to continue seeing each other the way we've been seeing each other. He said, "I really like spending time with you, so let's just take our time and see where this friendship goes."

He used the word "friendship." He made it clear that we're not a couple, not for now. I'm relieved and not relieved. I guess what I need to do is just sit tight and get to know him better. Isn't slow and steady what I wanted? 

This is how dating should be. We should be dating around and getting to know multiple people. Colton and I have cut back our physical relationship, which both of us have expressed gratefulness for, but we're still interested in each other. 

My friends, this is what casual dating is. So confusing, but hopefully worth it.