"All in!"

I've never bet all in on a poker game before, but there's always a first time for everything.

Last night we had our annual staff party and he was there again. Him. The cuuuute software rep that flies in from Toronto every year just to join us. And dare I say he remembered me! *swoon* But then again, I guess that's his job. :)

Also in attendance was my favorite cougar in the whole wide world. Yay! Unfortunately, "networking" did not work out so well.

So there I was, schmoozing with the reps and my colleagues when I spotted my favorite cougar (we'll call her FC) and worked my way over to her to say Hello. I had not seen her in a couple of months. They had re-zoned her area and she was no longer our rep. I missed her visits...she's so funny. Turns out that our new rep had a family emergency and ta-da, FC was there to take her place for the evening.

As luck would have it, FC and the hottie rep were together chatting with some of my colleagues. We'll call hottie rep "the Greek." So I found a space in their chat circle and said "Hello."

"Watch out for this one!" FC warns "She looks all quiet and shy but she dances up a storm!"

"Party animal, huh?" the Greek asks "Let's go, then!" And, oh god, the look he gave me right then and there, I would've sworn we had a moment. And that suit he was wearing was so hot...I just wanted to take his tie and bind myself to him, haha.

And I could've cursed at myself; I turned into shy-Leah again! What was wrong with me? He just gave me that look and I became all flustered and all my "shy" mannerisms came out full force. I couldn't look him in the eye and self-consciously rubbed my neck. Geez!

What I SHOULD'VE said: "I doubt you could keep up!" with a play-consoling touch on his arm.

What I actually said: "Well...we don't have a dancefloor and any music. Um, it's too bad..."

And what he said as a result: "Yes, and I suppose if we were dancing to no music they might actually have to come take us away."

Me: "Um, yeah." And I dropped the convo. :( But luckily it didn't look like I dropped the convo due to lack of interest in the subject...FC swooped back into our conversation wanting to ask how my holidays were, how I was doing, and to gain my opinions on Puerto Plata.

Sadly, I was not placed at his table. But it's just as well since I seemed to be slaughtering myself socially right in front of him.

Goody gumdrops for me, though, I ended up being placed on his team for the casino challenge. Each of us were given 20 dollars to try and grow. As our team strategized what best to do with our chips to maximize our winnings it was pretty clear how the genders were divided. Boys want to play tables and girls toy with the slot machines. I wanted to try my hand at poker in a casino (not that I'm a poker marvel) but with half an hour time limit I didn't really think I'd get very far with it. That and I would've loved to stick around and watch him play, but I had my own money to manage. Looking back I should've just given him my chips. Then I wouldn't be responsible for losing my share (haha) and I could stay and "monitor" our progress.

"And what are you going to do?" Greek asked me. His hand rested right below my shoulder. A googly-eyed Cosmo girl would have probably thought "oh my god, he's touching me above my elbow! That's so intimate! He wants to shag me!" But I kept my cool as I dumbly replied that I'd join the other two ladies at the slot machines.

Though I swear he was checking me out while I walked/strutted(? heehee) right in front of him. And I walked so slow; if we weren't careful he could've easily caught my heels. We were so close it would have been so nice if he had slid his hand up around my waist. Damn, work politics.

Yes, I realize this could all be in my head. Just humor me for a little while. I do recognize that the way I'm writing this post makes it seem like I haven't had any male attention in 2 years and not 2 weeks.

It just wasn't my night. I looked like an even bigger ditz when we regrouped and I had lost my whole 20 dollars on the slots. I had nothing to show. Luckily, no one else seemed to fare much better. Apparently the boys had been doing well at the start, but then lost it all in the end.

Clearly we didn't win the casino challenge. He invited me for a drink to drown the sorrows of our loss. Regretfully my ride was ready to call it a night. Now it's going to probably be another year before I see him again. *sigh*