Three’s A Crowd

This story is from Jen, a 24-year-old journalist living in NYC, as told to Raz:

Pat and I had been dating for a little over a month. He was funny and smart (an engineer), and when he invited me to a housewarming party at his new apartment, I was excited. This was my first chance to meet his friends and make a good impression.

I showed up at the party (fashionably late and in the perfect outfit, of course), with a bottle of wine in tow. Pat said a quick hello, but then I lost track of him. I was a little peeved that he didn’t seem more excited to see me, but I figured he was just off being a good host somewhere. I have no trouble shmoozing with strangers, so I poured myself a glass of wine from the bottle I had brought and started making friends.

About 30 minutes after I’d arrived, a girl walked in by herself, poured herself some wine and glanced around nervously. Knowing how it felt to not know anyone, I introduced myself.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Crystal.”

“How do you know Pat?” I asked.

“Oh, we actually just met in a bar last week, and he asked me out. I guess today will be our second date.”

“Really…”

“Yeah. He’s really great,” she said sweetly. “How do you know Pat?”

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I knew him in exactly the same way, that just a few minutes ago I had thought he was really great, too, and that I was even contemplating spending the night. I didn’t tell her that I was now contemplating throwing my wine glass at his head.

Pat was in the corner chatting it up with a group, and I wondered, ‘How many of those girls is he dating?’

Without saying a word to Pat, and only a quick goodbye to Crystal, I put down my glass of wine and left. Now that’s self control.

I didn’t hear from Pat again until a few days later. “You didn’t say goodbye the other night,” he texted.

“Well, when your other girlfriend arrived, I thought it was the appropriate time to leave,” I replied.

I still regret not telling Crystal what she was getting herself into. But with Pat’s not-so-stealth ways, I bet she’ll figure it out all on her own.