Reservation for None

Story Sent in by Danielle:

Ed contacted me on Match. He was from over 2,000 miles away. I thanked him for his interest but told him that the distance thing wouldn't work for me. He wrote me back to say that he'd fly in to meet me and then fly in all the time if things worked out. I thanked him again and politely turned him down.

Not a peep from him for a couple of months. Then he wrote to me out of the blue to say that he was in my town "on business" and asked if I wanted to go out for drinks. He had been persistent and so I agreed to go out with him for one drink.

While we were out he told me that he had come into town just to see me. He had no place to stay and he said, "Can I crash on your couch? I promise I'll behave myself."

I didn't really like the idea and so I listed a few nearby hotel chains that could serve his needs. But he was adamant, "I came here to see you, not stay in a hotel. Come on. We can go back to your place, I can sleep on the couch. Or if your couch isn't comfortable I can sleep on your bed and maybe you can sleep on the floor if you're not comfortable sharing a bed... or whatever."

I hadn't finished my Bordeaux but I was ready to jet. I put down some money and said, "You should definitely check out the Holiday Inn or the Motel 6. Enjoy Springfield."

He took the money I had put down (it was for my drink) and said, "This won't really cover a hotel. Do you have any more? I came out here to see you, after all."

I said, "That money's for my drink. Grow up!" and I left him there. I don't know if he ended up stiffing the bar or where he stayed that night or anything else. And why would I care?