The ring

I told Joe (see Shadow of a doubt) that I'd be busy on Tuesday night, but the next two nights we spent together again.

I decided to tell Joe a lie. I told him that people tend to think I'm rich judging from my job and my apartment, but that my job title is far more fancy than my pay check, and that the I have a big mortgage on my apartment and have some financial worries. In fact, I earn a good salary and the mortgage is about two-third of the value of my apartment. I wouldn't know what to spend my money on.

Next I told him that I loved living alone after sharing a household for eleven years, and that I was far from ready to share a household again. Marriage would be even a bigger step: indeed, it's my dream to marry the love of my life, but not before I'm very sure that I've found Mr. Right. I added that after being cheated on by two boyfriends, I would probably take a lot of time for me to be comfortable taking a wedding vow. Finally, I tackled his plan of going to Brazil together. I said that I would of course try and get the time and money to join him, but only if, by then, we were boyfriends.

To my amazement he fully agreed with everything. He even added that he didn't care whether I was rich or poor, as long as I was self-sufficient like him. He said he had some money on the bank and earned enough to save some every month. Also, he said that when eventually we'd get married, he wanted to have a premarital agreement that I would never lose my property in a possible divorce.

He suggested that we remove our profiles on gay personals sites, and promise to be faithful to one another. Moreover, he said that he wanted us to each wear matching commitment rings. He loves symbolism even more than I do. I told him he was moving too fast, and that I wasn't ready to wear his ring. He said he'd delete his profiles anyway and at least buy a ring for himself to wear as a commitment ring.

Finally, he wants us to go on a short romantic trip, but not in an expensive hotel, because he doesn't have that much money. At least he doesn't rely on me to pay everything...