Well, that went down the toilet quickly. 
Okay, so I went to the guy’s apartment and we talked and watched TV. I was a little relived to find he was even a worse housekeeper that I am, and he told me a little about Belize, (where he comes from) and I told him I spent a lot of my life taking care of my sick parents. I said I wanted to go slow and be friends, and he said he respected that. He did get a little touchy feely, but I just drew myself up, and he backed off, saying he just thought I was so attractive. I said that’s okay, but slow down, we’re just being friends now. We spoke a little more, and he said he had a job interview in the morning, for a job at O’Hare that he was pretty sure he was going to get. I said great, good luck to you, and said I had to get up early for work, and I left.
We texted good nights and good mornings, and I was fine with that.
So that afternoon, I’m at work and I get a text from him, saying he’s got the job. I say great, I knew you would get the job, etc. Now the thing is I can’t text type very quickly. My fingers just aren’t used to the tiny little keyboard. He asks if I want him to bring me some white wine. I said, “Sure, we can celebrate your job, fine.” Then he shows me a picture of a bracelet. Aannnd telling me that he’s in love with me. I say, “No you’re not. We just met yesterday.” He asks me if I like the bracelet. He says he’ll buy me a ring later. I say, “Tell you what. You keep the bracelet until we decide we’re more than friends. It’s too soon for gifts.”
And then, he starts calling me his wife. I say, “I’m not your wife. Don’t scare me off.”
…And then he texts, “What’s your fucking problem???”
I text back, “We’re done. Forget tonight. I’m sorry.”
I clicked off and blocked his number.
Aaannnddd…I start getting voice mails from the guy. “Don’t do this baby. I love you. l love you so much.”
I met this guy in the laundry room yesterday.
I called a stalker victim support group, and they gave me some advice like, don’t delete the voicemails in case you need them for evidence. Here are some resource numbers…call the police if you need to…Don’t respond to him in any way.
He did show up last night, but I wasn’t alarmed, because we had scheduled that time to celebrate his job the night before. I know the support group said don’t respond to him, but I felt I had to make myself clear.
I told him that it was over. He looked contrite and was holding the bracelet. He said, “Can’t we be friends?” I told him, “We can be civil to each other. We have to live in this same building. But we won’t be hanging out together. I think you want way more from a relationship than I do. I’m sorry. Good night.”
Then I closed and locked the door.
No more voicemails. That’s good I guess.
Goddammit. This sucks, but I think I handled it well.
I’m a little worried about him seeking revenge, but he didn’t actually threaten me in any way. He does seem a little emotionally loopy. If he did try to jump me unarmed, I think I could handle myself. He’s smaller than me, and I’m much stronger than I look. If he attacked me with a weapon…well, I’ll worry about that if it happens.
I think this should blow over in time, I hope.
I went to a diner for dinner tonight. I talked to a guy in the next booth over about old TV shows. He asked me where I lived. I told him my nearest intersection.
But I didn’t give him my number.
People are sociable creatures and there’s less than nothing wrong with making a new connection. In fact, it’s a good thing!
Not that this is your problem. He’s responsible for the consequences of his own actions, and maybe he’ll learn from this that desperation is never attractive.