Research and Ravioli

“I did some research this afternoon,” Jasmine said as you stared at her beautiful brown eyes, “like, man and woman dating research.”

“You didn’t have to, really,” you say with a chuckle, “you’re doing fine just how you are.”

“Fine won’t cut it,” Jasmine said, reaching across the table and grabbing your hands, displaying a generous amount of cleavage as she leaned, “I don’t think you understand. John, I am in absolute and total love with you. When you’re not around, I’m thinking of you. Of what you’re doing, what you’re thinking about. I know I shouldn’t. I’m a lesbian, for god’s sake! But you are something special, something bigger than my sexual orientation.”

You feel the heat of a blush in your face. You aren’t used to outbursts of emotion like this, especially in a public place, especially with a beautiful woman like Jasmine.

The date has only just begun, but it felt like you were behind on the plot. Jasmine had already arrived by the time you got to Mario’s, but had waited for you outside. She had already studied the menu and decided what she wanted to wait for you. When she saw you approaching, she ran to you as quickly as her heels would allow, grabbed you around the waist, and greeted you with a soft kiss to the lips. You were in heaven.

“One website said that I should definitely kiss you on the first date, but that I shouldn’t put out. That means, like, your penis and my…”

“Yes I know what that means,” you cut her off.

“But I guess if you really want to, we could. I mean after we eat. I’m starving.”

“Maybe we should take things a bit slower than that,” you tell her, your little soldier angry at you instantly.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Jasmine said in an agreeable tone, “there’s more reading I’d like to do on that. I understand the basic concept, but I feel like there’s more to learn before I try it. Besides,” Jasmine for a mischievous grin on her face, then started rubbing her foot along the insides of your thighs, “this other website told me all these other things we could do besides that! Some of those sounded fun!”

“Have you had enough time to decide?” The waiter asked, snapping you out of the moment so quickly you almost spilled your beer.

“Sorry, yes,” you stammered, “I didn’t see you there,” Jasmine’s foot, despite the presence of the waiter, hadn’t stopped it’s exploration, “I’ll take the special. The Alfredo.”

“Excellent choice,” the waiter complimented, “and for the young lady?”

“I’ll have the beef ravioli, please.”

“Of course,” the waiter said, collecting the menus and leaving.

“Listen. I’m flattered. Beyond flattered. I’ve had a crush on you for years, and you’ve never given me the time of day. What happened?”

Jasmine’s eyes seemed to tear up for a moment. “All those years wasted! When I think about them, it breaks my heart!”

“They weren’t wasted, and that’s not what I meant! You were with your wife! You were happy! What I mean is why did you change? Why are you into a guy, a male guy, when you’re so obviously gay?”

Jasmine was quiet, the tears vanishing. She looked like she was concentrating.

“I don’t really know. When you came in this morning, it felt like world had shifted, tilted askew. Everything looked different, especially you. I’m still gay. But that doesn’t stop me from loving you. From wanting you.”

Everything she said sounded perfectly earnest, perfectly honest. She truly believed what she had said. Jasmine loved you. Deeply. Profoundly. She didn’t know a thing about you, but it didn’t matter. To her, you were her perfect match, no matter what.

That left you with a choice to make. Do you stick with Jasmine? Or do you end it right then and there?