"I think I just overshared," I tell Maya.
"What did you say?"
"That he's lonely and afraid of being hurt."
My phone buzzes almost immediately.
Mountain Man:That's... surprisingly accurate. And a little terrifying.
Me: Sorry. Occupational hazard. I tend to read people well.
Mountain Man:Don't apologize. It's been a long time since someone saw me that clearly.
Mountain Man:Can I ask you something?
Me: Sure.
Mountain Man:What are you hiding from?
The question hits like a punch.Because he's right. I am hiding from something.
"What did he say?" Maya asks.
"He asked what I'm hiding from."
"And?"
"And I don't know how to answer without admitting I'm terrified of being vulnerable with someone I've never met."
Maya squeezes my hand. "Maybe that's exactly what you should tell him."
Me: I'm hiding from the possibility that you might be exactly what I've been looking for, and that scares me more than any dating disaster ever could.
The response takes longerthis time.
Mountain Man:I know the feeling. What are we going to do about it?
I look up at Maya."He wants to know what we're going to do about being scared of each other."
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to meet him. I want to know what his voice sounds like and whether his smile matches his personality."
"So, tell him that."
Me: I want to hear your voice. Would you be interested in a phone call sometime?
Mountain Man:Yes. When?
Me: Tonight? Eight o'clock?
Mountain Man:I'll call you at eight.
I setmy phone down and look at Maya, who's grinning.
"Well," she says, raising her mimosa. "Here's to Mountain Man and whatever happens at eight o'clock tonight."
"Here's to not completely humiliating myself on the phone with a stranger."
