Put your ticket in my [raffle] box
Mark, Part 1
Late winter, 2014
I met Mark through his then girlfriend, Jessica. Jess and I were in book club together and one night, we invited our significant others (or in my case, Mandy) to join in on the fun for a night of Cards Against Humanity. As it turned out, the Sig O’s were all pretty lame, awkwardly trying to make conversation with each other while the ladies, per book club norms, imbibed red wine and gossiped. Mark was the exception, he was utterly awesome, and I left thinking “how can I become besties with Mark so he can introduce me to all of his single friends?” The guy was perfect – hilarious, athletic, a pastry chef. What more could a girl want?
A few months later, Jess decided to pull a reverse Sharon and move to New York to pursue a lifelong dream of helping homeless children. She broke up with Mark (who I hear was dangerously close to popping the question) and she set out on a month-long binge of drinking and dancing, which I was happy to accompany. One night, a whole group of us ended up out together, Mark included, and as I went to bid him and another guy friend, Josh, adieu, was told that I absolutely could not leave the bar because I was way too much fun. Mark bought me a Patron shot, then Josh bought me Fireball and before I knew it, the ladies were headed home for the night and I was out with the boys. We went to Local Edition, where I got hit on by SF weirdest while Mark looked on amused. After deflecting a guy who told me that he worked for Muni and could definitely fulfill my dream of driving a cable car, Mark pulled me aside and told me how awesome I was. At last call, he made sure I got in an Uber sans Mr. Muni, and texted me to tell me he was glad I stayed out. Oh Mark, so perfect, yet ambiguously unavailable because of my friendship with Jess and the fact that, at the time, they were still living together. I was crushing, but tempered my infatuation due to awkwardness.
Before Jess left, she hosted a Valentine’s Day fundraiser for the homeless shelter she was shipping off to. I volunteered to be entered in the date raffle to raise money for her – and let’s be honest, I was hoping to walk off with a hot date and not spend Valentine’s Day alone. I borrowed a hot pink shirt from Elle, had her do my hair and set out to wow Polk Street’s finest. I worked the crowd, but was excited to see Mark in attendance. I think I chatted up every guy at the bar, encouraging them to definitely put their ticket in my [raffle] box, while knocking back vodka sodas to keep me flirty. Soon enough, it was raffle time, and I anxiously awaited my fate. The spa days, dinners, and Tesla driving experiences were announced, and soon enough it was time for the dates. The 5 gentlemen were announced first, then it was time for us ladies. The host read my numbers while I scanned the crowd looking for the winner. Mark, standing behind me, excitedly announced “I won!” I looked at him and laughed, “haha good one!” Then he showed me his ticket, and sure enough, had won the date with me. Not what I had in mind by “hot date” but I was secretly so excited that in some amazing twist of romantic comedy fate, Mark and I would have to go on a date together. It was the perfect love story, and only got better when Jess immediately exclaimed that it was “sooo amazing” and that Mark and I would be “absolutely perfect together.”
Jess left a few days later, and after some coordinating, eventually met Mark for our drink date a month later. I was nervous, but excited, because I’d been into this guy since I met him. We went to Trick Dog, where after two cocktails and a free shot, departed with a super romantic hug, but plans to get beer the next week. We met for Friday happy hour, which turned into dinner and a nightcap at Kozy Kar, before again departing with a heartfelt embrace at my doorstep. Mark texted me on his way home, telling me he should have stayed for at least one episode of House of Cards with me. Uhh yeah, you should have buddy. At this point, things were looking up with Mark. He was one of those guys where we’d laugh so much, I’d end up in tears, even if we were only talking about our least favorite Muni lines. My crush was intensifying and I was totally into him.
