July 20, 2025
Tall, fit, handsome, sunglasses, t-shirt, shorts. I walk down the sidewalk, his gaze lands and focuses on me. Does not turn his head away as I get closer. He recognizes me from my photos. I wave. His arms are outstretched. I tell him I’m sweaty. “That’s okay.” We hug, I need to tip toe, almost jump.
“You have an accent,” I comment. Surprised. He said he voted in our election so I thought he was Canadian. Technically he is.
We’re at a fancy matcha restaurant. We order. His body language makes it clear he’s paying for both of us. I usually insist on going Dutch but don’t this time.
We sit at a park nearby. He’s across from me. Sunglasses on. Political conversation. He told me he’s a Conservative, so I expect that he’s pro-life, part of the anti-vaxx convoys in Canada during covid, etc. Subverts expectations – He believed in none of these things. I rattle off a bunch of lies. I don’t expect to see him again after this. He had asked for my number, and I hadn’t obliged. I just wanted to get out of my comfort zone and scare myself a little… apparently by going on a date with someone who looks like a Greek god.
After almost an hour, I realize I didn’t have my phone. I panic. Rush back towards the cafe. He suggests he can try calling, and I frantically tell him my number while he dials, and I’m running ahead. He calls out my name as I make it to the cafe – They were holding onto my phone.
I laugh in relief. Aidan is smiling, sunglasses still on, and he puts an arm around me. I wrap one around his waist as well, inhibitions suspended in the moment. He said an employee picked up his call, which he was trying to let me know.
He jokes this was a very elaborate way to finally get my number.
I crouch down to repack some of the things I pulled out of my backpack while looking for my phone. He stands behind me, compliments my dress, asks if I want him to carry my bag for me. Total gentleman.
However our time is winding down as I need to meet Heidi for dinner. I would only learn this later, but Aidan drove an hour to downtown Toronto specifically for our date, and was expecting to spend a full evening together. I thought he was already in the area since he picked the spot, and usually wrap up first dates in an hour – I anticipated he’d take a look at me and go EW, grateful for a quick way out.
But he wanted to spend more time together, disappointed I couldn’t have dinner with him. He walked with me for half an hour, lightly touching my arms to maneuver me on the sidewalk amongst the crowds. We talked a lot. I lied a lot, and he caught me on some of them (based on what I’ve told him before meeting).
He texts me right away afterwards – We go on a second date a few days later. It was a disaster, like I hoped it would be.
