Yeah, I couldn’t believe it either. One of the most ridiculously unusual professions going.

We start with some banter on the app, and then a Saturday night date arranged the same week. I’m excited, he seems very keen and organised and even a location.

On the day I prepare myself for disappointment yet still take the outfit and some boots with me which might make me look like I’ve made an effort. The plan is lunchtime gig then meet him straight after.

The text comes through around 3 hours before we are meeting, he’s been let down with childcare. I’m less gutted than I thought I’d be and head for a swim.

He suggests coffee the next day, I’m surprised as this is keen. I’m meant to be meeting a friend but that doesn’t happen so here I am, nervously early.

He arrives around 20 minutes later than me. He looks pretty scruffy and tired but as soon as we start chatting everything is fine. We head into town together on the tube as he is going for a tattoo and I have an afternoon of yoga.

On the train he snakes an arm around my shoulder and side hugs me. It’s weird and nice all the same time; the first PDA I’ve had in a while.

We get off and walk through town, him telling me he thought he’d blown it when he cancelled yesterday. I brush it off because we’re here now and I’ve met him. I take him to one of my favourite shops, the staff know me in there which is how it should be and we take a look around, he immediately picks up on a few things and agrees how cool it is.

Outside we say goodbye, he tells me to come to the tattoo place later. I say “isn’t that a bit weird” and he tells me no, kisses me on both cheeks and we part.

——————

Of course I go. Yeah, you know me by now. I’ve never even been in a tattoo studio, let alone watched someone have one done. It’s a surprisingly nice environment: he’s laid out on a couch thing – bit like a massage chair. He’s wearing shorts now, and I try not to focus on the bulge in them. I watch the tattooist at work which is oddly fascinating to me. He winces and grimaces through the buzzing. We chat stuff and I offer him my hand to hold. He’s really gripping it. I’ve never had a tattoo so have no idea what it’s like.

Oh okay, both hands now. He’s vulnerable. He’s gazing up at me. Is this weird or is this the start of something?

One of his friends arrives and we get introduced, he goes and sits elsewhere to leave us alone.

I stay for about 45 minutes but when they start talking about pizza I have to leave, I’m starving.

——

He sends me the sweetest text thanking me for coming to see him. He says he wants to take me for dinner, which might mean he actually does or he wants something more. I’m so cynical these days.

He’s way quieter during the week so I match that and manage 5 days without texting.

Date, as of today, still unconfirmed.