Touching Gestures

Story Sent in by Sandra:

Erick and I met in college, and he asked me out on a lunch date. I was to meet him at his off-campus apartment and we were then to do lunch together.

When I made it to his place, his shirtless roommate let me in and said that Erick would be right there. The roommate invited me in and I sat on a plush chair in front of a TV set.

The roommate turned the TV on and sat right next to me on one of the chair's armrests, which made me suddenly very uncomfortable.

I asked him, "Um, do you want to sit down, here?" meaning the chair, itself, rather than the armrest. I was ready to stand and let him have the whole seat.

"I'm good here," he said, then put a hand on the front of his jeans and rubbed up and down, really fast. He moaned, "Oh, yeah—"

I shot up and said, "Could you tell Erick that I'll be waiting outside for him?"

I strode to the door, and the roommate said, "What the hell?" behind me, as if I had done something wrong.

I walked to the sidewalk and waited there for Erick. He wasn't long, and when he came out, he was mad.

"What did you say to my friend?" he asked me, like he was ready to fight.

I replied, "I wasn't going to wait for you while he was practically on top of me and touching himself!"

Erick laughed and said, "That's it? That's what you're upset about? He does that all the time! I don't think it was worth making him feel bad about it."

I processed what Erick was saying, and to really drive the point home, he said, "It's his house as much as it is mine. You're the guest in it, so maybe you're the one who should show some respect."

I said, "If you think it's okay to treat your guests like that, then neither of you deserve respect. Excuse me," and I left him standing there, all dressed up. He shouted after me and later sent an off-color text. Both of those actions only reassured me that I did the right thing. I mean come on, really?