A girl came into Working Bikes, the cooperative I volunteer at. She's looking for a female frame road bike. I help her for about two hours, which is about one hour and 59 minutes more than most people. This is equal parts because she's hell of cute and she is having some real trouble picking a bike. It turns out we were neighbors when I lived in Pilsen, and then it turned out we live half a block from each other in Logan Square. We're both half-Chinese ABCs, too. She seemed really cool, and when she finally paid for her Nishiki, she asked me what my name was, so I told her. After that, she kind of waited for two beats and then said "Wellllllll, see you around I hope."

Was I supposed to ask for her number? Is that creepy? I feel like it'd be taking advantage of having helped her or something.

Also, exact same thing happened about two weeks ago where I helped a girl fix a flat and she offered to buy me a drink. I made like a total fucking moron and said "Oh, I'm not 21." GAH! I am such a dope. I biked her home and she told me she and her roomie were making kielbasa and asked if I wanted to stay for dinner. Naturally, when her neighbor, who is a fellow biker comes outside and tells me I have to check out something at the shop, I go. Sans number, again.

CREEPY TO ASK? Y/N?

In the first instance, yeah, kinda creepy. In the second, maybe you could've given her your number? You know, "Can I take a rain check?" and if she says yeah, but doesn't give you her number, you go, "Here's my number."

But WTF do I know?

Well, I mean, I helped her for two hours because she kept asking me questions and talking to me about the neighborhoods we lived in. Not like, hovering.

You shoulda asked the first girl for her number. She obvi liked you.

Also, I'LL KILL HER.

i kid.

Celisse is not kidding

Seriously, these seem like good situations to at least try. Not that I am really one to talk, but still.

She's probably thinking about you right now. She's going to end up coming back to your work with something to ask about her bike (and this is just an excuse), and then it'll end up being a conversation about life, and then you're going to take her out to coffee.

Mmm, coffee and excuses.

i was like you in that respect until probably my mid-30s, when suddenly i loosened (or maybe toughened) up and could ask for phone numbers. don't wait as long as i did... just take chances, eventually you'll get over it and it'll be easier. ask in a very casual way, as if it's not necessarily a date. just very sincerely... 'i've really enjoyed talking to you,' etc.

HANDS DOWN YES TO BOTH

dude, i hate that they just wouldn't ask you--especially since you're the one who's working! maybe they feel creepy, too. everyone, be creepier.

missed connections like whoaaaaa.