And Deliver Us From Evil...

I lost a bet...this story is the winner's request. *sigh*

Back in the day, I used to mess with a couple dudes who had girlfriends. Yeah, I know. *sigh* It's not the proudest time of my life and it's not something I'd want included in my bio (or my eulogy), but "ye without sin cast the first stone". OUCH! You almost put my eye out, dammit!

I think we all have one of those times in college (some more than others...but who am I to judge her? She's married now, probably has kids and has turned over a new leaf), but even back then it was a big deal for me. I was The Good Girl; I didn't mess around - let alone with a dude who had a girlfriend.

That was until Rico Suave entered the picture. He wasn't my type (which probably explained why I never saw it coming); he'd been on a break from the girlfriend; it was summer (camp); and we were stuck up in the mountains with nothing to do but play truth or dare. (Word to the wise: playing truth or dare with the opposite gender late at night always leads to one inevitable conclusion). We continued our flirtation throughout the school year - but I always made sure they were broken up before I agreed to see him. In hindsight, I think he probably just told me they were broken up so we'd fool around. I mean it wasn't like I was gonna walk up to her and make sure or anything.

BGF (Best Guy Friend) said it was the year I fell from grace. LMAO. Apparently, that was when he started seeing me as a "regular chick" instead of "the chick on the pedestal who no one could touch because she had such high morals". Whadeva, sucka! I think he was just mad because he thought the dude was a "fat fuck". Big guys need love too! In any event, I swore I'd never do it again. I just didn't like being That Girl.

Then I met The (Now) Married Propositioner - who was very single at the time. Or so I thought. He was the exact opposite of Rico Suave. I met him out at a club (mistake #1) and thought he was one of the sexiest guys I'd ever seen. Instant attraction: he was tall, dark and handsome - and Caribbean. *whew* When he asked for my number, I didn't hesitate to give it to him, totally oblivious that he didn't offer his (mistake #2). He invited me out to the movies and after the show, he dropped the bomb: he had a girlfriend - and she lived with him.

I was appalled; what kinda dude invites a girl out on a date when he lives with another chick?! I decided that we would only be friends - despite my unbelievable attraction to him - and that's what we became. For over a year, we chatted via email and phone on various topics and on totally friendly terms. We talked about everything: relationship problems, work, future plans; he became second in line to BGF.

Then he called me one day: they'd broken up and she'd moved out. I'd like to say I waited a respectable amount of time before trying to take things to the next level. I'd really like to say that. LOL. Three months of bliss, then the bomb #2: She was moving back in - "only temporarily, until she sorted her stuff out, and there would be nothing physical between them". Good grief, I still can't believe I fell for that one. I'll just blame it on the fact that I was 21.

Three months later (while we're still seeing each other and the temporary living situation is "close to being resolved"), a friend of mine sent me an invitation to view her page on one of those wedding websites. As a fluke, I decided to enter MP's name since he had one of those unusual names you don't hear every day...he popped up with "ex" girlfriend's name as his fiancee, and a wedding date set for a month away in the city where his parents live.

I confronted him; at first he said it could've just been a coincidence. Then he said "oh, she may have done it a while back just playing around. You know how women get about that stuff when they reach a certain age." I'm ashamed to say I bought this too - but with reservations. Something told me it was the beginning of the end. The end came two weeks later when he announced that she was pregnant. So much for a temporary, non-physical living arrangement. I'm no biology whiz, but I'm pretty sure that's not how osmosis works.

I didn't speak to him for yeeeeears - not 'cos I was mad (you get over things surprisingly easy when you're 21...ah, to be young and fickle); I just didn't see any reason to. Then one day out of the blue I sent him an email 'cos I'd had a dream about him. We agreed to meet up for a friendly lunch and catch up. He'd gotten married (to the same girl - I resisted the urge to ask him if it was 2 weeks after we last spoke...LOL), was a father and had settled quite well into family life. Or so I thought. Imagine my shock and disgust when he propositioned me. It wasn't an all out proposition; more of a let-me-put-it-out-there-and-see-how-she-responds situation. I haven't spoken to him since.

What's your dating/relationship story that makes you cringe?