Maybe He Missed His Sister

Submitted by Dina:

My first date with Patrick was originally planned to be a short meet and greet over a cup of coffee, since my 2-year-old cousin's birthday party was later that same afternoon.  Still, we were able to pack our time together with a good talk.

He told me more about himself, how he was relatively new in town, etc.  I told him that I had a fun family and a good relationship with my brother.

We ended up having such a good time with each other that I called my family to ask them if it would be okay for me to invite him along to the party, as a friend.  They said that it was fine, and he seemed really into the idea.

However, Patrick became really shy once we made it to my cousins' house, despite my best efforts to introduce him to everyone and include him in conversation. 

I took him aside to ask him if he was okay, and he assured me that he was.  He said that he was having a good time.

At one point or another he broke away from me to speak to some of my family members, and I was pleased that he was finally breaking the ice a bit.

Not too long after, my older brother, Rick, sought me out and brought me into a side room.  He told me that Patrick had asked him if we (my brother and I) had ever messed around.

I told Rick that he had to have been mistaken, or misunderstood what Patrick had actually been asking.  I couldn't imagine anyone asking that of anybody's sibling, ever.  Gross!

When Rick and I left the room, Patrick stood nearby, by himself, and of course he saw us.  Rick continued back into the party, but I approached Patrick.

"Had fun?" Patrick asked.

I asked him if everything was okay.  He said, "You know, it all makes sense.  Back when you said that you and your brother had a good relationship... I couldn't believe that you had said it, but now I see... and I'm sorry, but I can't really handle this."

He shouldered past me, and I ran in front of him.  "What are you talking about?  You don't honestly believe that my brother and I... ewww!  I said that we had a good relationship!  Not a sexual one!  Are you serious?"

He put up his hands and said, "I... just, no," and made for the front door.

I let him go, and he drove off.  I didn't hear from him again, and although I was really upset about it at the time (my brother took my out for ice cream afterward, and NO, we didn't do anything else), I think that things worked out for the best.  I mean, saying that you have a good relationship with someone doesn't imply anything other than a good relationship, does it?