The Next Step

Things were going well with Joe and I as friendly ward members but I felt a need to test the waters a little to see if there was any potential. Besides, it is always fun to flirt a little, right? He would always greet me with "Hey Crazy" and a handshake. I felt that since he had given me a nickname, there might be a spark of something more than friendly ward members. One time when he shook my hand, I was slow to release so that our hands gently touched each other a little longer than a normal handshake release would. I wanted to communicate the lingering feeling in my heart as my hand lingered in his.

I went to the sunday school class he was attending and made sure there was an empty seat by me. The first time he didn't take the bait but I think it was because he felt he had to sit by the door because it was his job to ring the sunday school bell and gather the attendance rolls from the other classes so he had to leave early. So the next time I sat in the chair next to where he sat. He sat next to me (not that he had a choice).

After a couple of weeks going to his class, I felt that I was getting my hopes up so I went to the other class and he asked me afterward why I didn't go to "our" class. He missed me! I continued going to "our" class and we would always sit by each other. We were becoming good friends. I would always lean in my seat toward him slightly just for the chance of our arms brushing. He was always so good to share his scriptures and lesson book with me and so I stopped bringing mine altogether so that our arms would have to touch as we leaned into each other so we could both read.

It was so thrilling!

It was summertime and I was often out in the front yard working on cars and things just at the time he was getting home from work. He would always drive down my street which I think wasn't the way he normally could have gone. He would see me out there and stop by and talk and help me out with whatever I was working on. We would both grin from ear to ear when we saw each other and I often prayed at night with so much gratitude for sending me a friend in my lonely life.

I thought it was time for the next step. Giving him my phone number. This is a defining moment. It was a test to see if he would call me or not. I've tried this before with someone else and he never called me. It is a signal to see how interested they really are.

Through his stopping by and conversation he learned that I had a motorcycle and I could see his eyes light up like mine do when I even hear the word motorcycle. He said he hadn't ridden in years so I offered to let him ride mine. I used this excuse to give him my phone number so he could call and let me know when he could come over and take a ride.

He took the bait and although he didn't come over to ride my motorcycle right away, he and I have been texting maniacs since that day. I was never a texter until he came along and I am grateful for all the texting because now I have a record of how our relationship has grown through those messages and I now I can share it all with you!