Date 2: Learning Proper First Date Goodbye Etiquette

Date 2 - "Seth"

Another happy hour, another Friday night, another meeting over margaritas - I never knew I liked tequila so much!
I met Seth last Friday night - he suggested we meet for "early drinks" - which in datespeak means "let's get together, meet, and if we're compatable we can hang out longer, and if not, I have a safety out of having to meet up with some friends." I was fine with that - the "safety out" definitely benefits both people!
Seth and I had pretty good chemistry over email. I found his messages to be absolutely hilarious, albeit a bit ADD. His goofy wit and humor were obvious, and I was certain that if in person he was anything like his emails, I'd be one smitten kitten.
I arrived at the restaurant early, and grabbed a table in the bar area. He walked in at 5:30 on the dot (prompt, a requirement in my book). He was nice looking and I stood up to shake his hand and we had an awkward moment as he went in for a hug. We both recovered nicely and sat down as the waiter appeared to take our drink orders (it's like he knew it was a first date and was saying to the bartender as the alarms sounded and the sirens blared: FIRST DATE!! FIRST DATE!! BOOZE ASAP!!).
Over two rounds of margaritas and chips and salsa the conversation flowed well and there were minimal awkward, strained silences. And when they happened, they were for mere seconds (that felt like a lifetime, but in normal time, not first date time, it wasn't long at all). We talked about our families, our hoiday rituals, what we do for fun, our experiences on the dating site, our jobs, how long we've lived in the South... we covered it all.
I laughed a lot and remembered to be a bit more flirtatious this time (I was worried that with Mike I hadn't been flirtatious enough). I touched his arm a couple of times... not in a creepy "oooh, what nice biceps you have", but to emphasize a point.
At 8:15, nearly 3 hours after the date began, he said something about ending a good thing on a high note (something alluding to not overstaying a welcome, but the date version of that). So we got the check and he paid the bill (I always offer, and am 2 for 2 in being turned down).
He was nice enough to walk me to my car, where we had a nice hug (definite bonus points on being a good hugger). And I thanked him for a nice time...then... in the sort of awkward silence that followed I said "Hopefully I'll hear from you."
YIKES. Eeek. Several friends have assured me that it's not THAT bad. But it still makes me cringe a little. It sounds just a wee bit desperate. His response "oh, Ok, great. Excellent." And that was it.
That was Friday, it's now Monday night and I haven't heard from him. Which I'm fine with. Looking back, it seemed kind of vanilla. There was no spark. No pizzazz. No za za zu. He was a perfectly nice guy, funny, sweet, good conversation, but no spark.
If he contacts me I'll go out with him again and see if the za za zu appears. If not, there are no hurt feelings. It was a good date and I feel good that I'm still back out there... even if I did get my feelings hurt just a little bit with the bizarre Mike/text message stuff from several weeks before.
Next date is Wednesday night - 2 days away... stay tuned!