Seperating the men from the boys

This week in work has been weird, because I only have two co-workers (or, shall I say, one boss and one co-worker) to begin with, and the non-boss has been out all week with a very sick daughter. So on Wednesday, boss and I were sitting in the back having lunch together, when the flower delivery man came. Apparently, Lui googled the choir, then googled our zip code and "florist" so he could send me flowers for no reason whatsoever. The card read, "How's this for international romance?" Pretty good, actually, I have to admit. And although he didn't know it when he ordered the arrangment, the vase actually has a pumpkin on it. (Lui's pet name is Pumpkin.)

I don't know how to describe the feeling - it's not butterflies, because we're way past that stage, but it's definitely something. Sort of embarrassment, mixed with "awwww", mixed with a sense of comfort, belonging, and right-ness. Like, "Yeah, you should send me flowers from overseas while I'm at work. Well done for knowing that yourself."

That night was the Tom Petty concert, with Beck opening and Stevie Nicks surprise-guesting. I was on my way down there with Pigeon and some of her friends, when it suddenly occurred to me that it was time to stop being a wuss, call Piano Man, and demand my stuff back. So I did. I was nice, friendly, a little flirty (not sexual flirty, but office flirty, with a smile in my voice); he was civil, blatantly uncomfortable, but trying to play it cool, blowing smoke into the phone.

"So, we should meet up sometime and get me my stuff back," I said.

"Yeah... There's still a lot of stuff in boxes, that's why I didn't get it to you sooner." Boxes? Last year it was "still at his mom's house". Why would it suddenly be in boxes in the house he shares with his wife?

"I sent you that story you wanted, but I don't know whether you got it or not?"

"I don't know."

At which point, I'm thinking, you don't know? Either you got it or you didn't, dumbass.

"I don't know," he said again. "I'll get you your stuff back."

"Okay. [Mutual friend] offered to play delivery boy, if you want to give it to him and he can bring it to me?"

"No... I'll bring it by your house."

"While I'm there? Or while I'm definitely not there?" I mean, do you want to see me or not?

"I'll put it in the mailbox or something."

It wasn't until after I hung up that I realized, he's probably still pissed at me. And rightly so, but I have more right to be pissed at him, and I'm being friendly. This way, he's just gonna make it so it's still awkward when we eventually run into each other at a coffee shop or something.

Pigeon pointed out that now he doesn't really have to give it back - he can say he put it in the mailbox and that it must've gotten lost. So I'm going to try to get ahold of [mutual friend] anyway. And I've decided that I don't have it by next Wednesday, I'm going to make threats. I want this done and over with before Lui gets here, and if I have to cut my losses and give up on getting my stuff back (but we're talking about my final project from college, and I want it!), I will. But not without getting some revenge.

Jeez. Lui and Piano Man. It's like two totally seperate worlds.