*Nolan, 45- The Gentle Gangster: Part 1
Pros:
Gentleman
BDE
Assertive
Thoughtful
Funny
Good vibe
Sweet
Committed to winning me over
Cons:
Not my type
Covered in tattoos and has lots of piercings
Short and bald (as self described by him)
Nolan, Nolan, Nolan….. where do I begin!?
Well…. I’ll start by saying, this one caught me off guard. Have you ever dated someone you didn’t think you would ever date? Maybe they just weren’t your type and they kind of just slowly grew on you over time?
Well that was the case with Nolan. Here’s the backstory:
The first time I met Nolan was through a mutual friend. I was meeting my friend Kevin for a drink after work, and he told me he was bringing along his friend (and boss). I didn’t think much when I met him. I mean initially maybe was a little surprised, intrigued, off-put, fascinated (?) by his appearance. Kind of a mix. I mean he’s not very tall, pretty stocky, and covered in tattoos from his neck down. (Am I entering my Travis Barker phase??). He had these huge gold hoop earrings going up his ears and one of those goatee beards that was also bedazzled. He kind of gives off Genie from Aladdin vibes… but like, an Italian gangster version.
Anyway, he was really quiet, seemed a bit serious. Kevin and I got cocktails and were catching up, and Nolan got a water since they weren’t serving coffee at that time for some reason. I found out later that he doesn’t drink. We got one drink and changed places since the servers seemed to have a stick up their ass that day. Actually, the service usually sucks at this place and I could tell Nolan was really annoyed about it.
So we changed places and went to our beloved Vitti, which we can always count on for great cocktails and great service. Nolan’s mood lightened and we started talking. It was my friend’s friend. I was being normal… nice. I wasn’t attracted to him so I wasn’t like bringing my flirting A-game or anything. We were at a square table and he was sitting across from me and Kevin was sitting to the left of me. So we were all chatting and I can’t remember how we got on the topic, but we were talking about how Americans are pretty politically correct and usually judge everyone else for not being as PC. And he was saying that facts are just facts, not everything has to be sugar coated. And then he goes, “I’m short, fat, and bald.”
I was kinda stunned… I didn’t know what to say lol.
He was laughing… like, what’s the problem? It’s the truth.
N: “Look at me, I look like a mafia gangster. People see me at the club and try to sell me drugs and I tell them they have 2 seconds to get the f*ck out of my face. I hate that shit”
The really cool thing about Nolan, is that he is so okay with himself. That kind of confidence is so f*cking cool. People like that are untouchable. Like, no one can bring you down if you’re genuinely okay with yourself. And he really, really is.
He’s also a really smart and accomplished person. He’s the CEO of a very large tattoo company and sponsors a bunch of famous tattoo artists… It’s not really my world so I don’t fully get it, but I know he’s kind of an icon in that community.
But anyway, we’re talking and somehow we get on the topic of body language and thaaaaaat’s myyyyy shiiiiiittt. He started trying to teach me these body language reading tricks and I was like…. yeah… duh. So we’re both popping off, sharing our fav tips and tricks. The usuals. He told me you can tell if someone is interested in you or not by if their feet are pointed toward you. I said I.M.O. feet and chest both have to be pointed toward you, it’s more accurate. He told me that you can make someone feel insecure by staring at their eyebrows/forehead while they’re talking. Girls will think you’re judging their eyebrows and boys will think they have something on their forehead. I told him that if your talking with your palms facing upward in the “truth plane” which is by your belly button, people will subconsciously trust what you’re saying more. (Though that doesn’t necessarily mean people are actually being truthful. Mark Bowden talks about it 25 mins into this video).
Okay, N-E-Way-
So we’re kinda vibing now. I mean for me it was like a friendship vibing, but vibing nonetheless. I told you he was sitting across from me right? And Keven was on the side. Well, at this point Kevin is like zoning out smoking his electronic cigarettes while Nolan and I are deep in conversation.
N: It’s so refreshing to talk to someone like you. I’m so tired of talking to women that can’t hold a conversation.
(Listen, I’m not a pick me, iM nOt LiKe OtHer guRlz b*tch, so these compliments do very little for me).
But whatever, it’s how he felt and he seemed like excited and relieved at the same time.
Anyway, we ended up staying and talking for a few hours and since I had gone straight from the office, I was starvinggggg. I think him and Kevin were gonna eat later or something but as soon as he found out I was hungry, he asked if he could order me a pizza.
…Ya’ll already know I liked the initiative lol. So he warned me that I was gonna think it’s weird, but asked me to trust him anyway.
N: Trust the fatso. About food you can trust me.
LOL (btw he’s not actually fat).
He ordered this pizza with FRIES on it, and… I won’t say it was the best pizza I’ve ever had, but it was good.
I actually only ate part of the pizza because my mom was visiting and I wanted to head home to hang out with her. (Don’t worry, she was staying with me for 5 weeks, so I wasn’t like ditching her). Kevin and Nolan both knew I was gonna leave kind of early since my mom was alone.
So anyway, Nolan disappears for a bit and I just assume that he went to the bathroom or something. And Kevin goes, “Listen, I know he’s not really your type, but I know a few girls that have gone there… and… they didn’t regret it”
Uhhh…. Kevin… THE F*CK!?!
Nooo…no.
Just because we got on as friends doesn’t mean I was looking for more. Like, ever.
K: “Okayyy, okay, just saying” (laughing)
Anyway, as I was walking inside to pay my bill, Nolan intercepted me.
N: Where are you going
Me: Just paying, then I gotta go! My moms at home.
N: It’s paid
And then he hands me a gift bag of macarons.
N: And this is for your mom
Damn… he’s smooth with it.
Dating 101 Key Take Aways:
A little thoughtfulness goes a long way.
