Dinner and a Sex Museum II

Did he think I was dumb? I had to decide whether I was going to flip the table over in the restaurant or not.

If you know me, then you know this is the antithesis of my outward personality; calm, kind, and gentle is the path I choose to take most of the time unless, of course, someone questions my intelligence, and boy did it feel like he was questioning my intelligence.

This man tried to coerce me to go to his apartment after our now second date, and when he saw I wasn’t budging, he suggested we go to the Museum of Sex.

Did he really think this was going to land me in bed?

The thoughts in my head were at war with one another. “Do not cause a scene. “But maybe he deserves a scene!”

His pushy behavior was now becoming a trend. Memories of our first date came to the forefront of my mind.

First Date Memory

“It’ll be a birthday gift,” he explained on the phone call trying to make plans for our first date. I didn’t know if I should end things with him then for his impatience or appreciate him for wanting to spend time with me.

We had been through this the last time he asked me to spend time with him that weekend. Why did he think I was lying when I told him I had plans and that telling me it was his birthday would change things?

I was supposed to see my parents that weekend. Since my dad and I both work in Manhattan, though I live in Jersey and he and my mom are outside of the city, I was going to pick my dad up from work and we were both going to go home together.

My date whom I met on the dating app Hinge didn’t seem to believe I was actually busy. I couldn’t cancel my plans with my family for him yet- I didn’t know him like that — so I reiterated that the following weekend was better for me.

I told him, “I’ll think about it,” so he’d finally get off my case.

In the end, my plans changed. Before work, my dad called.

“Baby,” my dad said. “I am too tired to go into the office today, but do still come home.”

Maybe I did have enough time to see him before leaving for my parents’ house.

I wasn’t quite sure what the right thing to do was. I knew he wanted to see me but I wasn’t sure if this would set a bad precedent for further pushiness.

At the same time, there was a change in plans, so if I could now go because there was a change and it was his birthday after all, then maybe I should go.

I texted him and he sent me the address of the restaurant he wanted me to go to.

It was me, him, and his friend who came to visit from out of town to celebrate his birthday.

It was very much a day party when I walked into the restaurant. Someone else was also celebrating their birthday and they had a large group partying and making noise. The DJ played music that made us all get out of our seats to dance.

We were having fun before his pushiness reared its ugly head again.

After a text alerted me my parking was up, he begged me to stay. He was hinting that I did not need to go home to visit my parents, that I could stay out with him and his friend, and he went so far as to question whether I’d actually get a ticket in NYC if I didn’t leave right then. He clearly wasn’t from the area!

To Go to the Museum or Not to Go to the Museum?

“Jehan, calm down,” I said to myself as my mind returned to the present moment. “You know what? You’ve always wanted to go to the Museum of Sex.

Though you thought it would be with your girlfriends, or with a long-term partner, you’ve always wanted to go. This is an opportunity for you because who knows when you make it next. You’ve been in the New York City area for years now and still haven’t made it. So why not go and try to enjoy yourself.”

I was right to go as the museum and the rest of the country would shut down due to COVID-19.

I went to the restroom to readjust my off-the-shoulder black moto jacket and to regain my composure.

Upon my return to the table, he stood up to help put on my winter coat.

I looked at him in his white turtleneck. Though handsome, his looks didn’t rid me of the annoyance this was causing me, but off to the museum we went.

On the Way to the Museum

“Cough into your sleeve,” I demanded scoldingly on our way to the museum.

I was getting nervous because he coughed throughout dinner and he continued to cough on our way to the museum.

“What? It’s not like I have the Coronavirus or something.” “You are not taking this seriously!”

He reached for my hand, and I dodged it. He had just coughed into it!

“Calm down,” he said.

I was already frustrated with him, and it was becoming increasingly difficult not to show my frustration.

I let him place his arm around my waist, which was protected by my winter coat.

He was so happy-go-lucky on our way to the museum.

When we arrived I was shocked. Though this was the Museum of Sex, the history teacher part of me, the part that frequents museums, doesn’t place gift shop upon entry. Usually, they are tucked away in a separate location sometimes in the front, but mostly at the exit. But the gift shop, a sex shop, was the first thing you saw when you walked in.

Genius idea since it’s accessible from the ever-busy NYC streets, making it easy to drive sales from people who may not want to go into the museum but want to go to an adult store. Or for people who don’t have time to see the museum but are curious about what’s inside.

And we were one of those people who never did make it into the museum.

There were so many people there touching everything. Even early on in the pandemic, maybe even before it was called a pandemic, this didn’t seem right, especially since he was coughing up a storm.

It was odd at first walking around the sex shop with someone I hadn’t been intimate with yet, but we had some fun talking, laughing, joking, looking at everything there.

“Is there anything you want?” He asked

“Maybe these,” I said, picking up a box of 101 sex questions. “O wait, or maybe these. The sexy truth or dare stack.”

I loved asking questions and getting to know people on an intimate level, so those gifts suited me.

“I’ll get both for you.”

“Thanks,” I responded. “Well, maybe he’s not that bad,” I thought.

We made our way to the register, not without being distracted, by the colorful sea of whips, chains, restraints, games, vibrators, and other fun goodies.

Like every store, there was more merchandise by the register.

I was drawn to the chocolate-flavored body oil in the long glass case next to the register.

While the salesperson rang up the items, my date picked up a condom, looked me in the eyes, and said, “these condoms are so small. How do they fit anyone?”

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Previously Published on medium

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