The Hard Rock Cafe (Then: July 2008)

I meet Jack at The Hard Rock Cafe in London. I get there before him and sit in a booth. Ten minutes later he slips into the seat opposite me and I find myself looking into a pair of beautiful Tiger Eyes. He is nice. Im realxed and find him easy to be around- because Im still totally in love with someone else. He tells me about his ex girlfriend in the military. I tell him about my ex fiancee a helicopter pilot I met on cruiseships. We both agree that long distance is agony and destroys relationships. As he talks I decide that any woman would be crazy to get involved with this man. He has been nicknamed "Crazy Jack" because of his escapades in life. He has been on 3 tours on Afghanistan and Iraq and is about to go on a 4th. He is addicted to motorbikes and parachute jumping and once jumped 11 times in one day. Nice as a friend but trouble as a boyfriend no doubt. He tells me that he is being pursued by a lot of different women. I congratulate him.


Would I be interested in this man if I wasnt so attached to my Jewish ex I wonder? The answer was pure and simply no. I just wasnt really attracted to Americans and he wasnt pushing my buttons. But it was nice to be around someone and just be myself without the wory that you have when you want someone to like you.


 After lunch Im ready to leave but he wants to do something else. I can tell he likes me. I dont want to lead him on but he is so sweet like an enthusiastic boy and so we walk through King James park past Buckingham Palace. Theres an awkward moment in the park when its apparent that he is considering kissing me. I get a bit paniced and divert him by pointing out an excessively fat duck...We walk further down to The River Thames and get a beer on the waterfront. I tell him that its time for me to go and make an excuse about having evening plans. He asks me if he can see me again and I agree but dont mean it. He walks ms right up to the gate at the Tube and I realise he is going to try and kiss me. I dont give him the opportunity and just hug him and dash off. I turn around at the top of the escalator and he is still watching me from behind the turnstile. I blow him a kiss.