Of course, the only thing I'm dwelling on is how badly I may have screwed things up at the end.

This? Also normal. I hope.

To clarify: I'm betting you neither bopped her one or literally ran away, right? In that case, it sounds excellent.

There is almost no brief weirdness that a nice phone call/email/other type interaction can't smooth over.

Exactly. And GO YOU!

I know it's nigh impossible to stop stewing over what might have gone wrong, but please try. As a veteran of many, many first dates, I can't remember a single one where, if the rest went pretty well, I'd have ruled the guy out because of anything that happened at the very end. Even for people who do a lot of them, first dates are scary and stress-inducing, and it's easy to do something that you'll beat yourself up for afterwards. As long as the woman who asked you (which, yay! and this speaks well of her) isn't some kind of tightly wound perfectionist or scary Rules Girl, she'll still think well of you.

Also, my entire weekend is now retroactively much better, just knowing Tom Scola had a date on Saturday night.

Plus jean shorts and totally sugar shiny red almost flats. And a new sparkly belt.

awesome - I'm betting teh crush swooned.

Hooray for first dates! and dates of all kinds. and babysitters who allow some of us to have dates. need new babysitters

t /mememe

go Scola!

Tom, did you propose? Clutch her about the knees and beg her never to leave you? Tell her you loved her and only her forever?

If not, I think you're okay. Even if you said something like "I haven't had a date this relaxed in a long time. I really REALLY hope we can see each other again" or tied to slip her some tongue or got a little choked up, those are all well within the bounds of acceptable.

That's so great, Tom! And what everyone else said - I'm sure it's all good.

What they all said. I'm'a bet that what felt like fight or flight looked on the outside like awkwardness and fluster, and first dates are pretty much about all parties getting over that bit so you can relax more the next time.

I'm'a bet that what felt like fight or flight looked on the outside like awkwardness and fluster, and first dates are pretty much about all parties getting over that bit so you can relax more the next time.

Exactly! Yay You!!!

I know my day would be going faster if I could just focus and get some work done, but I absolutely cannot do that. (I can't stop saying "absolutely," either, if this weekend is any indication.)

I am to understand that among the general male public, the knowledge of how to come to the end of a first date (especially one that didn't suck) is sorely lacking. I don't think I've witnessed a literal fight-or-flight response, but an extended-dither response is pretty common.

I don't particularly think he did anything illegal until there was actually lewd behavior or money changing hands.

I think that asking a cop to actually have sex with a senator (I mean one he's not actually dating or married to) is kind of... I don't think they pay cops enough for that. Men get arrested all the time trying to pick up prostitutes (who are actually cops); giving a woman in hootchie shorts and a halter top a ride in your car isn't illegal either.

(I begin to think that if I were an undercover vice cop, I'd be totally addicted to romance novels, as an antidote to the unromantic environments they live in. Like porn stars wearing flannel jammies around the house, you know?)