Allergy Alert
On principle and appearance, I do not date people from my academic department but when this one guy, who was the Ph.D. hunk of brawn and brain, asked me out I shockingly forgot my own rule. He told me he would love to cook me a meal but was in the process of moving and of consequence his kitchen was in disarray. I offered my apartment and the date was set; he planned dinner and I dessert.
When d-day finally arrived, he appeared at my place late and offered no explanation. Not that he needed one as I had spent the hour dreaming up excuses for him. He rescued a baby in one scenario – how could I be angry at him for saving a baby? We proceeded to cook dinner together. It was lovely: incredible conversation interspersed with small, cute flirtations. Things were going well.
When it came time for dessert, I told him we were going to have a chocolate fondue with fruit. When I brought out the chocolate, he asked if he could read the ingredients citing a peanut allergy. Oddly enough, I was glad as I have a severe peanut allergy and mutual allergies would alleviate any worry about the end-of-night kiss. I mentioned this and commented on our similarity. He then told me his concern was not for himself but for his girlfriend! He said and I loosely quote: “If things don’t work out here, it would be bad if I go home hospitalize my girlfriend when things are working out for us”.
Of course, things did not work out for us. For his girlfriend’s sake, I’m hoping things didn’t work out for them either.
