Game Recognizes Game

My Charlotte... she knew Mr. White well.

"How well?" I asked.

"Very well."

"Very well? Wait. That  well?"

"That well."

On one hand, I was disappointed... I mean, there's girl code and all of that, right? However, her "pseudo relationship" with him had been several years prior and it never really escalated to anything too serious. But there was a reason for that.

"He's really fun," she assured me. "And he's a super sweet guy. He'll take you on trips. You'll have a great time with him. But... you have to know..."

"Know what?" ...but I already knew. I did. The moment I heard her tone change, my mind replayed the day's events and I instantly knew.

...sitting behind the wall.
...him going to the bathroom when we were leaving and having me just meet him outside.
...the fact that he parked around the back of the restaurant where there were no other vehicles.

"He's married," she told me.

"No. He told me he was single. He's been single the same amount of time that I've been." I was trying to convince myself that he wasn't lying. Look- I don't trust men anyway. They'll get away with whatever you'll let them get away with. I once fell in love with a man and dated him for SEVERAL months before finding out that he had a wife. I've been the cheater, the cheatee, the cheated... None of them are good feelings. I don't want to be that person. I have very strong feelings about it, considering what happened with my relationship with the Ex. No one wins and the pain that is inflicted is never worth the temporary whatever that you get from sneaking around on someone that loves you. I digress.

It's not that I wanted a relationship with Mr. White. I wasn't in a relationship frame of mind at all. But I won't be "the other woman".

"Well, maybe he is single. Are you sure he's divorced? I mean, he could be telling the truth..."

"...No. It's all adding up... Let me call you back." I hung up the phone and opened iMessage.

 ...so I'm thinking... when you return from Spain-
  when we see each other again- maybe we should
  go on a trip out of town for a few days.

Oh yeah? Where were you thinking?

Oh I don't know. Just somewhere private... Some
 place where we don't have to sit in the back of a
 restaurant and you won't have to worry about 
 parking around back or being seen with me and
 your wife finding out.

                                                    He knew he was busted.

What?

Come on. Let's just be honest here. Are you or are
you not married?

I have been honest.

Are you married, Mr. White?

I am. But we haven't lived together for some
time. I never lied to you.

Let me just stop right there for a minute. I don't consider Mr. White to be a liar. I don't think of him as a bad person. Is he separated? Is his wife aware of this fact if he is? I don't know. I won't lie- I'm typically the girl who would find out. Do some research. Ask around. Learn who his wife is and straight up ask her. Woman to Woman. However, I've found that usually just makes me look crazy. (Kayla side bar: since when does being up front and real and honest with people make you crazy?? I guess people have just become so accustomed to lies and they prefer to live in their own little fake happy bubble than to know the truth. Not this one. Hit me with the truth no matter how badly you know I don't want to hear it.)

I didn't stop talking to him. My initial thought was to cease all communication. But what if he was telling the truth? If my history with men is indicative of the way the majority of them lie- I absolutely should not trust that his marriage is over... but I wanted to believe him. Not because of anything more than the fact that my head was still spinning over being pinned between his truck and... whatever was in those designer jeans he was wearing.

You have to start trusting sometime, Kayla, I told myself. It was just convenient for me to choose this moment to attempt such a feat. Trust. It's never been my strong suit. I trusted the Ex. Even when I shouldn't have. It bit me in the ass. This is why the whole "do what I want, no relationship" thing appealed to me so much. I didn't have to worry about whether or not someone was telling me the truth because they would owe me nothing.

Okay. I believe you.

Good.

I can't wait.

Surely you can.... ;)

No. I can't wait to bend you over and
spank your ass and pull your hair.


And there he was. I forgot about the "issue" at hand.

The next morning, I took the five year old to school and went to my office to begin my work day. When my phone chimed, I smiled knowing immediately who it would be.

I was wrong.

"Men all over the county find themselves thinking on a daily basis... 'How can I make Kayla's blog?'"

This guy. Sexy. So sexy. Outdoorsy. Intelligent. Seemingly the eternal bachelor. He's in his 30s and has never been married nor does he have any children. I mean, I suppose that wouldn't seem abnormal in the least if you were anywhere other than South Georgia where most have at least 2 children before their 25th birthday. But not him. He reminded me of a combination of George Clooney and a young Harrison Ford. Rugged at times, yet the man could wear a suit like no one I'd ever seen before. And he knew it.  Harrison Clooney. That's him. My Clooney. Granted, he wasn't mine yet, but he would be. He didn't know it- but he would be. Hell, I didn't even know it yet...

I laughed. "Oh, you read the blog?" I asked.

"I look forward to it," he told me. I was kind of surprised. My best friend's husband reads the blog.... but I figured it was more of a "show my wife's best friend some support" thing than him actually being entertained by it. Or even a "let me see what this crazy bia is gonna say now..." because he knows me and knows that I'm bound to write anything (as you all have probably learned by now, as well) "It's refreshing," he says, "to hear from a chick who's a little dirty, yet practices restraint. I dig it. I'm a faithful follower." Faithful. Sorry- just that word coming out of a man's mouth is enough to turn me on.

He tells me about himself. His likes and dislikes. The fact that he actually enjoys being single. We have a lot in common.

I go into this knowing that it can't turn into anything. Hours later as I'm texting my Clooney Goodnight I realize that I haven't text Mr. White in hours. Many hours. His flight left early that morning, but he was sure to text me when he arrived at his destination. I responded, but I was more distracted by another conversation that had recently begun...

We may have been bitten, my dear.

                                                                                  We have a problem.

Maybe we can help one another solve it...

                                                                                  I really can't wait. Seriously.

I'm glad you feel the same way.

                                                                                 This could go down in flames.
                                                                                 But if it does- it'll
                                                                                 be fun in the mean time.

...I'd been Clooney'd. Some how he had gotten to me. The walls... the "hardness"... I was starting to forget my own rules. I told myself again This CAN NOT go anywhere...

...or can it?