Second Date with the Slowest Talker in the World

I am not going to turn somebody down because they are the slowest talker in the world. I’m just not going to do it.

So I’ll have to find some other reason.

I was already doubting myself for asking the DJ Chemist for a second date. Yes, I eventually enjoyed our conversation, but that was only after much annoyance at his professorial airs. And plus, that was on a beautiful, lazy Saturday. Would I enjoy his company after a long, busy workday?

On our first date I wrote him off 15 minutes in. This time he was much more efficient. I wrote him off in five. He was just so smug, and he launched into an explanation of his day that seemed practiced. As if it were lecture material that he already laid out. Handouts in the back.

Was this enough reason to not go out with him again? No? How about the fact that we don’t agree on whether research skills are part of learning critical thinking? No again? What about how he sat a little too close to me and bumped into someone while we walked out of the café because he was looking intently at me? Wait, those are just signs that he’s really into me? Dammit.

And then, once again, he started growing on me. We talked chocolate and rotating statues. He told me about a research project during WWII to train sea gulls to poop on submarine scopes.

And then…he mentioned skateboarding. Shit. I have a weakness for skateboarders. Now you’re telling me that he’s not only a chemist and a DJ, but his most used mode of transportation is a skateboard?! It’s times like these that make a belief in a cruel god seem like the only reasonable explanation.

An hour and a half into the date I made the excuse that I needed to go. The reason I gave? Because I was sleep deprived and needed to go to bed. As soon as it was out of my mouth I felt like such an ass. It felt like one step above, or possibly parallel to, “I have to wash my hair.” I backpedaled, or tried, but there wasn't much room for backpedaling. In my defense, I am sleep deprived. If I wasn’t, I could have come up with a much better excuse. But he seemed to take it in stride.

I honestly don’t know what to do with this guy. While some part of my brain worked during the entire date at searching for reasons to write him off, he is the most interesting person I’ve dated in a long time. I’m all for dating someone interesting until they become annoying, but what do I do when someone is annoying before he gets interesting?