2024-09-12 “Initial Approach” by Merritt and Hannah

INITIAL APPROACH (Merritt)—I’ve said before that, given Emma’s opinion about being forced mindlessly into a relationship, I’ve felt like I put myself into a holding pattern, circling the airport and biding time. In light of the camping trip and each passing day, it seems Emma has settled down comfortably into Devon’s interest. Meanwhile, I’ve grown as comfortable around Hannah as I am around Emma. Today, I acted on that comfort.	INITIAL APPROACH (Hannah)—The passing weeks with Merritt have seen us go from strangers to friends. I would doubt my interest in him has gone unnoticed, but over the weeks, he’s kept things collegial, or at best plutonic. We’ve definitely grown comfortable being around each other, and today, he took a step I’d like to think was an initial approach to a more meaningful relationship.
Tom has Hannah and me doing drawings for a cable chase in a Queens warehouse. Today, the two of us met at the office to work on preliminary drawings. Hannah and Emma were Snapping back and forth the whole time about something that happened Tuesday night. I’m guessing it was some things Addison was saying that didn’t sit well with Emma. After a few Snaps, Hannah told me that Emma wanted her to come over after work tonight to talk about it. She also Snapped me that Tom wanted her to fill in at the Theater and asked if Hannah and I could meet her at 7:00 to walk her home. She said she’d just make a sandwich and that I should eat on my own. It seemed like all the stars aligned for me to ask Hannah to eat dinner with me. While for all practical purposes, it was a matter of convenience and practicality, I let my mind shift slightly. “So, we’re going to meet Emma at 7:00…” “Yes, we are,” she replied. “How about you and I go out to dinner when we wrap up here? We’ll have plenty of time.” Within my aviation metaphor, if landing and pulling up to the gate is some level of romantic commitment, I thought of this dinner as setting up for the initial approach. It was really a nice dinner. It didn’t have that nervous “date” feeling. It was comfortable and relaxed, and the conversation had substance born out of your growing bank of shared experiences. If I allow this “initial approach” to be considered a date—and why shouldn’t I?—it was a good one.	Tom has Merritt and me doing drawings for a cable chase for that warehouse I measured out in Queens. Today, the two of us sat down at a drafting workstation and got started. Emma was called in to work today, but she had some things on her mind from Tuesday night that she wanted to talk to me about. Addison had made some comments to Merritt and Devon that were, I think, way over the line. Emma was Snapping me snippets and I was Snapping back. Finally, she just asked if I’d come with Merritt to meet her after work so we could talk face to face. Of course, I said yes. Then she Snapped Merritt to let him know she was working and to tell him I was coming for a visit. She asked him if he and I could meet her at 7:00 to walk her home. Suddenly, Merritt and I were destined to be together the rest of the afternoon and on until 7:00. I was trying to think how I could capitalize on the situation, but Merritt acted first. “So, we’re going to meet Emma at 7:00…” “Yes, we are,” I replied. “How about you and I go out to dinner when we wrap up here? We’ll have plenty of time.” Of course, I agreed. Merritt had finally relaxed enough to invite me out. Sure, the invitation was connected to the circumstances, but it had a date vibe, but without the tension. If I consider his  “initial approach” to be a date—and why shouldn’t I?—it was a good one.