Dinner makes Three

It's a Lipton's Tuesday...and the morning is warm...not cool and damp like it usually is...yesterday was 94 degrees and it was humid...I can only imagine today...but I'm thankful I am here to experience the beauty of nature...today Tales of ATL is the continuation of the The Red Chair... of yesterday...

With me being the designated driver my ex and Ari left their cars at the Red Chair, hopped in mine after we decided to patronized one of the many restaurants in the old theatre complex on Munroe just west of 10th street…the ride was about five minutes if that…there was friendly banter in the car and all the while I was thinking…what the hell is going on here…soap operas are made from this shit…

We were quickly seated…and it took a minute for our drink orders to arrive…Ari and my ex seemed so relaxed with each other…yes--it seemed like I was the third wheel…and not a good one at that…Ari is from Belize and has property assets in his portfolio down there…so he gave me a brief synopsis of the availability of land…he suggested and asked both of us if we would be interested in joining forces with him to purchase a plot of land…I myself own land but in another Caribbean country…so I really wasn’t interested given the fact that it was only four hours ago that I met him…I thought he was a bit forward…although in hindsight I could understand him feeling comfortable about asking as my ex and him were dating...how long I would soon find out...

Still Ari doesn’t know that his dating partner is my ex and my ex doesn’t know that I know that he’s dating Ari…so during dinner I decided to be as quiet as possible and just listen for clues into how much they knew about each other from dating…I was quite surprised that my ex knew a whole lot about Ari and Ari knew him somewhat…what tickled me in the course of the conversation was the fact that my ex and Ari went running in Stone Mountain Park … on one of their dates…now this surprised me…I’ve never been to the park and my ex promised me that he would take me…but that never happened even though we live five minutes from the park…My ex never had time or was to tired or work or Home Depot or Lowes…on the topic of exercising is another matter…he always complained that he needed to exercise but it was sporadic at best…even though I encouraged him almost daily to do it…

I could tell from our initial meeting that Ari was educated, a well traveled jetsetter and somewhat mysterious…mysterious is good sometimes...during dinner and through conversation at the table I found out from my ex that Ari is a scholar when it comes to religion…I got schooled in the lessons of the first bible and wasn't the King James version...he was a practicing attorney at one point…HIV case worker… and now works in human resources…he was a double major graduate with honors…with a minor in languages…My ex has six degrees four masters and two doctorate…right away they have something in common…

So all during dinner they were talking and at one point Ari asked me if everything was alright…everything was fine…as far as I was concerned...I was just smiling to myself…thinking about all the times with my ex…and how certain things just didn’t add up…how all of a sudden…everything he didn’t like to do with me…he’s doing now either by himself or with someone…I kind of wonder if I really did have a relationship…one thing was for sure…I had an awakening…All sorts of emotions were fueling inside…but I had to get through this dinner first…Ari excused himself as he had to go to the lavatory…

My ex took this opportunity to say that he thinks Ari likes me…I told him that I didn’t think so…and that I got the impression that both Ari and him liked each other…from the conversation and the fact he knew Ari so well…my ex is sharp…he didn’t missed that comment…even through our relationship he used the attention deficit disorder--add--as an excuse not to answer me about things as he forgets in one minute that you asked him a question...I would be waiting for an answer and all I would get is "what"....but as usual he changed the subject and Ari reappeared…dinner was over now…so we retired the bill…and got up to leave the restaurant…my ex then excused himself and went to the lavatory…while Ari and I waited outside for him…Ari asked me point blankly for my number…as he would like to get to know me…I gave it to him just as my ex was came towards us…

As I turned the corner to the Red Chair…I asked Ari which row his car was in…he waited until I passed it and then said I could drop my ex to his car first…so I did…my ex didn’t missed Ari intention…while dropping Ari to his car…my cell rang…it was my ex…inquiring whether or not I was still spending the night…or was I going home with Ari…I wanted to spit out venom right now...but being the good Catholic that I am I couldn’t answer him like I wanted too...I told him I would call him back...As Ari came out of the car…he told me he enjoyed the evening and that he would call me…

I droved home…and was greeted by my good friend and housemate…recapping the events of the evening to him…as I was doing so…my cell rang again…it was my ex…he was outside the house…wanting to know if I was ready…as he came to pick me up…my good friend said he has a whole lot of gall…but I went…for…there are some issues I had to resolved…at least for my sake...I live for perserving my sanity...a throwdown was due...

I jumped in the car…and we drove off bounded for Stone Mountain…I wasted no time in getting to the root of my concern...there was to be no time to chit chat…I prefaced the conversation by saying…God is a good God…his wonders are to be performed...and he did it tonight...leaving no room for further deceit...he was caught red handed by me...it's nothing like seeing it for yourself...I said to him…that Ari told me that you and him have been on a couple of dates…and all I would like to know is how long have you known him…and been dating...because in not one of our conversations has he been mentioned as a matter of fact as far as I know your not dating (even though the grape vine told me differently)…

We drove in silence all the way home…

At his house…I do what I always do…I get naked and ready for bed…he was on sort of an edgy high…didn’t take off his clothes but instead went to his lap top to check his emails and the phone…as a sort of diversion…but tricks are for kids…and I am an adult…so this antic was not going to get any play…I sat up in the bed and asked all the questions I needed to ask…the moment was a tense one but a necessary one…he was reluctant at first...but I was insistent and you know...we managed to talk without agruing or me being the wicked witch ready to turn his ass into a frog…the end result was…he has moved on with his life…and has been dating one other person…do I believe that…NO…but who cares now…right now…it’s not possible for us to get back together…and my allusions of reconciliation is now resting in peace…

I went to sleep and later on I felt his closeness as he snuggled up against me like always…as upset as I was...it felt good... skin on skin...our feet entangled...his scent and our time...we both forgot about tomorrow as we lay...for now this moment was special but defining...


QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Judge thyself with the judgment of sincerity, and thou will judge others with the judgment of charity." - John Mitchell Mason