Oh right, my story.



During a work trip to Boston we were working with a consultant. Being a female and a consultant, she was hot. Female hot. So we're there for a week, working away with a group of about 10. During the week three of us (me, hot consultant, and a co-worker from Denver) would have dinner together. End of the week comes along and its time to say our goodbyes. We're going to meet up for work in Denver so its not like we'll never see each other again. So there we are in the parking lot headed to our rental cars.

My co-worker from Denver is married. He has 2 kids. He's likes to cook and garden. Gourmet type cooking. Loves talking about houses. He enjoys mixed cocktails. Doesn't like sports. Doesn't even pretend to. He's about 5'9, a little portly, and balding. Maybe early forties. Speaks with a bit of an effeminate inflection. If he wasn't completely in love with his wife and kids people with bad gaydar might think he was gay....or European. Great guy. I like him, but he's very non-threatening. The type of guy who can hug anyone without anyone thinking anything odd is happening.

I'm a freaking rock hard hazelnut. Voted the second most heterosexual male in the tri-state area. I'm also quite happily married. Not that theres anything wrong with that.

The parking lot. Goodbye. Nice working with you. See you in Denver. I'm waiting. Waiting to get in the car so Denver guy and I can catch our plane. Consultant has her own car. As the goodbye line forms I'm behind him. He is between me and the consultant. Just the three of us in the parking lot. Saying goodbye. He mutters the usual goodbyes, then he does it. He goes in for the hug. They hug and say whatever. And there I am. I was thinking handshake. Actually, I wasn't even thinking it, it was a given. You don't hug consultants. You shake their hands. If that was a guy, I'd shake his hand, no questions asked. Why the hug ? Especially before me ? She comes toward me, hands outstreched, a hint of an ackward smile on her face. Its too late. I hestitated. We hug. Goodbye, farewell, see you in Denver.


On the way to the airport I have the following conversation with the co-worker:

ME: You don't hug consultants.
CO: Huh ?
ME: Do you kiss prostitutes ?
CO: I've never been with a....prostitutes ?
ME: Hugging consultants.
CO: Huh ?
CO: Which exit do we take
ME: Why, you wanna hug it ?
CO: What ? pfft, prostitutes ? sign hugging ? TGIF!