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Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
My date showered me with compliments - until I turned down his request
Almost two years ago, a quirky guy stopped me from absent-mindedly scrolling one evening. I had downloaded Hinge as part of my post-divorce foray into dating. I thought I'd find it daunting after being out of the scene for five years but I was enjoying my quest to find Mr Right. George* wasn't my usual type but his humorous photos and prompts caught my eye. In one photo he was dressed as an astronaut; another showed him with his pet bird. He had a good job, was a couple of years older than me and seemed to have his life together. We soon matched and and he suggested a first date later that week at a pub. When I wandered into the arranged venue, I recognised him hunched over his table while rolling a cigarette. Oddly, on his profile he'd listed himself as a non-smoker, but I figured he was in the process of quitting or calming his nerves. I found it sweet that he was early and had a pint waiting for me. My ex-husband had never been that chivalrous. There was no initial awkwardness, and the conversation flowed, despite George admitting during our second round that he'd been nervous all day in anticipation. He told me he'd been single for a good couple of years and was ready to settle down. Then he leaned forward to speak. 'I don't want to be presumptuous, but I hope we have a second date? Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! I was caught off-guard by his forwardness – he was interesting and funny, but I wasn't feeling romantic chemistry. Trying to be diplomatic, I told him it was too soon to tell. That's when the compliments started. They were all centred on how I looked, which seemed shallow and disingenuous for a man in his mid 30s. I looked better than my photos, he said, adding, 'You'd never guess how many women trick men with their profiles'. He loved my hair; I was a nine out of 10. Throwing around these superficial compliments on a first date was too much too soon but I didn't feel comfortable telling him to cool it. Then, George divulged that he'd been recently told that he would soon meet the love of his life – and she'd be wearing a red dress. I was wearing a red dress that night. No pressure. I changed the subject. Half an hour later, we were sitting side-by-side and George asked if he could kiss me. I thought, why not – it was refreshing being asked for consent compared with previous dates who had launched themselves at me, and it seemed a good way to establish once and for all if there was a spark. It wasn't a good kiss. It confirmed there was no chemistry on my end and I mentally friend-zoned him, then avoided further physical contact by surreptitiously changing seats after buying the next round. Soon after, George begged to stay the night at mine, but I politely declined. I just didn't fancy him. So, How Did It Go? is a weekly series that will make you cringe with second-hand embarrassment or ooze with jealousy as people share their worst and best date stories. Want to spill the beans about your own awkward encounter or love story? Contact After I rejected his sleepover request, everything changed. George suddenly changed tack. 'You think you're so cool!' he huffed. I laughed, before he added: 'You're not that hot actually, I've changed my rating to 6/10.' I shrugged nonchalantly. I didn't rise to his disparaging comments, which confused him. It had been a while since I'd been on the receiving end of hot and cold sentiments, and I wasn't impressed; it was weird and immature. I think George was pulling a power move to save face. Maybe he had a fragile ego, maybe I triggered a weird memory… regardless, it's unacceptable for a grown man, and was the nail in the coffin of our mediocre date. I told him I better call it a night. Again, George implored that he wanted to stay at mine and grabbed my arm. 'Please! I like you so much.' 'Sorry, I don't have sex on the first date,' I said. His face darkened and the next wave of insults hit: Now, he was ridiculing my star sign, telling me my Libra was a terrible match for his Cancer before narrowing his eyes and sneering, 'I can tell you're part ginger!'. Despite starting to feel unsafe, I almost had to laugh at this last remark. I was a brunette, and I didn't know how having ginger hair could be something to be ashamed of! Gathering my belongings, I made moves to leave, and George was adamant he'd take me home. When I refused, he threw out a final recycled comment – 'You think you're so cool!' – and I walked away, leaving him at the bus stop. Walking through my front door, I was relieved the evening was over. But when I glanced at my phone, a barrage of WhatsApps and Hinge messages began popping up: 'I didn't mean what I said… please can I see you again? Pleeeaaseee? I'm sorry. I blame the booze.' More Trending I didn't open them. I just blocked him. I was disappointed, especially given his age and claims of wanting to settle down – I've dated guys in their 20s with lightyears more decorum than George. Thankfully, it was easy to move on and swipe again. But the more I've told this story to single friends of all ages around the world, I've learnt that they have all experienced similar dates. Perhaps this behaviour stems from a desire to control the situation due to insecurity or emotional immaturity. But nobody wins by playing mind games. *Name has been changed Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: What to do when your partner betrays you — and everyone else knows about it MORE: Think twice before you mock the Coldplay kiss-cam couple MORE: My date said I had one drink to impress him – so I downed it Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
A weekly 'porn night' helps keep my relationship alive
'Let's try taxi porn,' said my boyfriend, Alex, as he peered over my shoulder at the laptop. We were naked in bed together with the lights dimmed and we should have been halfway through having sex by now. There was just one issue: We couldn't settle on what to watch. I had spent nearly 10 minutes frantically clicking on different types of porn, trying to find something suitable – but nothing seemed to fit. Exasperated at the lack of good options, we decided to go rogue and chose a category at random – which is what brought us to taxis. And although that particular genre of adult entertainment didn't do anything for us, we wanted to stick to our new tradition of couples porn night. This ritual all started following a row. About two months prior, my boyfriend and I had a sit-down chat about some of the niggling issues in our relationship. This time, I felt that our sex life had fallen into a routine. It wasn't bad by any means, but it had become a bit predictable, so I was keen to shake things up a little. Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! And thus, our weekly 'porn night' was born. The premise was simple: Every week, we'd choose a day where we watched a filthy film together. It felt naughty and new, and it didn't really matter if we had sex or not as a result. The only issue was, we hadn't really organised anything beyond the time and place – and during that first run, we quickly realised that ill-planned logistics can ruin the mood pretty quickly. Now, I am not here to judge anyone's sexual preferences but taxi porn wouldn't be in my personal top 10 list. Spoiler alert: They shag in the back of the cab – surprise, surprise. But Alex and I were on a mission and we couldn't find anything better, so we kept the film on in the background and turned our focus back to each other. This probably won't surprise you but the sex wasn't our best. There was a bright glare from the computer that bothered me, our movements were slightly off and the subpar porn just seemed to make it all feel a bit seedy. Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! About 15 minutes in, I called it quits and suggested we get some snacks and watch a movie – the non-adult kind – instead. 'That sounds great,' Alex replied with a relieved smile. It wasn't the night we'd planned. Nevertheless, we are both stubborn people – so a few weeks later, we gave it another go. This time, we came better prepared. Earlier that day, we had randomly been talking about swinging – not for ourselves, a friend of ours had tried it – when Alex said he was intrigued by the idea of exploring this in porn. As someone who has been to sex events and seen this lifestyle in action, I was eager to lead the way. Porn night 2.0 was a smashing success, letting us live out a fantasy without ever wanting to do it for real. I can't pinpoint exactly what changed, but I'd say it was the anticipation. The first time, we had simply decided to watch porn to see what happened. Whereas during round two, talking about what we wanted to view beforehand made the moment sexier. I was turned on because of Alex's curiosity and he in turn was intrigued by the newness. I am very comfortable in my own skin and in my relationship, so trying something new with Alex is usually pretty easy. It also wasn't entirely out of the blue for us. Earlier this year, I asked Alex to choose porn for me to watch by myself during masturbation – with very surprising and fun results – but this more recent experiment was more about us bonding together over something new as a couple. But if the idea of watching porn with your partner feels intimidating to you, I get it. I've had experiences in the past that were so unsuccessful, I was put off watching adult content altogether for a few years. But if you're both willing to keep an open mind, it can be great fun. Be mindful that the majority of porn is still made for the male gaze – so avoid overly aggressive or less mainstream categories unless you are 100% sure that you will both enjoy it. Women are more likely to stay quiet if they feel uncomfortable in a sexual situation, so check in with your partner and discuss boundaries. More Trending How you set up porn night is entirely up to you – every night, every week, once a year – but don't feel bad if you end up rescheduling now and then. Life gets in the way, just as it did for me and Alex. We cancelled porn night twice over a four-week period – once because I'd had some bad family news and wasn't horny, and once because he was tired from work and would rather eat takeaway and hang out. But it might come back – and Alex recently suggested that we watch porn on the sofa and stream it on our flat screen. View More » I'd be game – but no taxi porn again. Ever. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: 'Afternoon delights' with strangers stop me from falling in love MORE: One leaked government email could put my family in grave danger MORE: I felt forced to perform my boss's sexist demand
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Afternoon delights' with strangers stop me from falling in love
Welcome to How I Do It, the series in which we give you a seven-day sneak peek into the sex life of a stranger. This week we hear from Cheri*, a 27-year-old bisexual writer. She's currently single, but is keen to explore new people and sexual interactions. 'One thing I'm particularly happy with about my sex life is my ability to separate sex from emotions, which makes casual sex enjoyable,' she says. 'But I'd like my sex life to be more frequent and to try some more kinky things.' Cheri's four year relationship ended two years ago, and since then she's opted for no-strings sex because she 'tends to fall too hard, too soon' when dating. 'This approach avoids me feeling lonely while single, but also ensures I remain focused on myself and my work,' she adds. So without further ado, here's how Cheri got on this week… The following sex diary is, as you might imagine, not safe for work . Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! I'm spending a week in Oxford for a change of scenery, and once I arrive, I get off to a wholesome start. I unpack my bags, touch up my mascara, and head into town to explore. It's my first time here and I've got plenty of recommendations from friends. The sun is shining, and the city is filled with tourists and students. I spot a nice cafe and decide to sit down for a while. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a couple at the next table. He has his arm around her and is kissing the top of her head as she nestles into him. For a moment, I feel slightly envious. I've been single for a few years now, and for the most part, I'm very content with it. I've grown to enjoy all the perks of singledom, like having full control over Netflix and getting an entire double bed to myself. The only thing I miss is that physical touch. I want to have sex again. I look at the options of dating apps on my phone. Will I go for Tinder, Bumble, Hinge or Feeld? I decide that I'll put my efforts in Bumble this time. I've tried all the apps while travelling around the UK and Europe, but Bumble is definitely my favourite. I update my account with some recent photos and check my prompts. Then, it's time to swipe. I always start very picky and then slowly deteriorate and lower my standards. But I pause when I reach Josh's* profile. His first photo features him on the beach, a cheap way to show off his extremely toned physique. I hope he's still this tanned, as he looks absolutely delicious. I feel a familiar stirring in my body; I'm definitely attracted to this man. His profile doesn't reveal much about him, just that he's 26 and a tennis coach. I swipe right for Josh, and every time I get a Bumble notification about a new 'bee in the hive' (aka a match), I hope it will be him. But it's all the other men I swiped right for who suddenly seem less attractive in comparison. Waking up on a Monday morning is never enjoyable, but I spend a few minutes with my trusty vibrator to ease myself into the week. I imagine a man touching my body as I press my trusty toy against my clit. I really want to have sex soon. Once I finally get out of bed, I check my phone and discover Josh matched with me at 2 am last night. I wonder why he was on a dating app at that time. Was he looking for a quickie? Was he looking at the photos as he touched himself? I message Josh and decide to make a joke about whether he'll give me a tennis lesson. He replies within minutes. We chat, flirt a bit, and the conversation is easy. I decide to be completely transparent and tell him exactly what I'm looking for out of this. I'm only in Oxford for a few more days, and I just want a fun one-night stand with no strings attached. As soon as I send the message, a wave of embarrassment washes over me and I briefly debate deleting the app. But then he replies, saying he's definitely interested, topped off with a cheeky emoji. The hard part turns out to be planning our one-night stand. I'm leaving on Friday, and Josh is working in the evenings this week, teaching tennis to kids after school, or professionals who work their jobs during the day. His one-night stand could only start at about 11pm when I'm usually tucked up in bed. I also don't love the idea of meeting someone for the first time that late at night. Josh suggests we meet in the afternoon instead; my instinct is to decline. I can't have sex with someone in the middle of the afternoon…right? A one-night stand must happen at night, an inherently sexier time of day. But then I think about it for a moment. I love getting my sleep at night, and this way, that wouldn't be disrupted at all. Also, meeting up with a stranger for sex in broad daylight is probably way safer. Why not have a one-night stand in the afternoon? I agree, and we plan for Josh to come over tomorrow at 2pm. I'm looking forward to it but I'm also terrified. Either way, I'm having sex tomorrow. The hardest part turns out to be creating a sexy daytime outfit. I settle on a fitted long skirt, a black t-shirt, and some natural looking makeup with a bronzed glow. Josh arrives right on time, and I open the front door to see him strolling over. Oh, he is just as cute as his photos. We naturally both move into a hug, which shouldn't feel this awkward since we're [hopefully] going to be naked together soon. We head to the living room and I make us both a cup of coffee. We talk a bit, and there is soon a lull in the conversation. I offer a 'house tour', and Josh eagerly agrees. I show him around, and then we reach my bedroom. Josh looks around and then sits on the bed, watching me intently. Alright, this is happening. I walk over so I'm standing between his legs, and I lean over and kiss him. Josh responds eagerly, wrapping his hands around my waist to pull me closer. We fumble onto the bed, making out as if we've known each other for a lot longer than twenty minutes. Our clothes are quickly shed, and Josh nuzzles his face into my neck, telling me I look 'so gorgeous'. I giggle and thank him. I go down on Josh, and he returns the favour. I tell him I want him and he immediately moves up. I remind him to grab a condom, and he obliges with a mischievous grin. We have sex, first in missionary and then moving into doggie-style, at which point I orgasm. Josh gives my behind a playful smack, and I urge him on. Once he finishes and disposes of the condom, we lie down, both panting and laughing together about the fact that we first met in person about an hour ago. 'Have you ever done this before?' I ask Josh. He says he's had casual sex, but never this quickly, and definitely never in the middle of the afternoon. I like the thought that I'm his first; it makes me feel special. We have sex again and end up in doggie-style again to finish it off. I message Josh to tell him that I had a great time. He tells me that he keeps thinking about taking me from behind and the view he had from there. After a few saucy messages back and forth, we plan for Josh to come over again this afternoon. I kiss Josh as soon as he walks through the door, pushing him against the wall. He seems to enjoy my forwardness, and we quickly move upstairs. He asks me to go down on him again, and I gladly comply. We start with me on top, and Josh seems to really enjoy it. I'm surprised that I don't feel more self-conscious about my body in this position, considering I don't know him, and he is so toned. But something about the casual nature of our meetups allows me to shed my insecurities and just enjoy the sex. I know I'll never see him again, so it feels like a business arrangement almost. If I'm not trying to impress him I can just embrace my larger body. In the break between sessions, we talk openly about our lives and sexual interests. There's a sense of intimacy in both knowing exactly why we're here and not hoping for anything more. I wake up to a message from Josh saying he had a great time and safe travels. He tells me to 'hit him up' if I'm ever back in Oxford. I reply saying I definitely will and good luck with everything. He doesn't reply again. More Trending As I'm packing my bags, I discover a discarded pair of underwear on the floor, likely tossed to the side in the throws of sex. I have a 'sex flashback' to looking up at Josh while on my knees. I cringe slightly at the memory, my cheeks flushing, but I also feel strangely comfortable with everything that happened. View More » I get on my train, leaving Oxford, Josh and my first one-afternoon stand behind me. It definitely won't be the last time I enjoy an 'afternoon delight.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Dating app horror: I discovered he got a girl pregnant after finding him on Bumble MORE: I married an AI bot – my human wife doesn't mind at all MORE: I thought my date was too young but I was the immature one
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Dating app horror: I discovered he got a girl pregnant after finding him on Bumb
I stared at my phone in disbelief. I'd been sent my recent ex's Bumble profile via a friend of a friend and at the very top of his bio it read: 'Dad to be'. We'd only broken up about four months ago, and granted it was my decision to end the relationship, but it seemed so soon. At just 20 years old I thought it surely had to be a joke. So, my curiosity got the better of me and I dropped him a message and straight up asked him if it was true. Yes it is , he wrote. He went on to tell me that in his 'rebound' relationship after me, he'd only been using 'the pullout' method, and it hadn't gone to plan. The real shocker? This happened about two weeks after we'd broken up. The woman, who was a few years older than him had decided to keep the baby, even though it was clear they weren't going to stay together. Honestly, all power to her. This was why he was on Bumble looking for his forever person, and in fairness, I saluted him for being upfront about his situation. He was also still being very supportive to the mother of his child and is, to this day, from what I can see from sporadic Facebook posts, a great dad. Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! To my shock, he asked if I'd ever be willing to get back together and be a stepmother to his kid, but as I'd barely entered my twenties, I didn't feel that was the path for me – plus none of the reasons we'd broken up had changed. Why am I telling you this story? Well, it came up in the ever hot topic of dating apps in the latest episode of Metro's sex and relationships podcast: Just Between Us. Our caller had met her long distance boyfriend-to-be (hopefully) on Hinge, which my co-host Diana Vickers and I agreed is the most relationship friendly app of the bunch. I met my long-term partner Sam on Hinge after coming across his dreamy blue eyes and making the first move, and nearly two years in, it's been my best decision to date. But with the benefits of dating apps come the downsides too – one of them being that cheating has become much easier. This is something both our caller Rebecca and I had experienced, and it really does suck. In fact, this negative experience gave us both a form of anxious attachment – but you can learn more about that in the episode. Before the apps, you had to actively go out and look for someone to cheat with, but in the age of Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Feeld and more, the temptation is just a tap or two away. Being scorned does feel like a pretty universal experience too, with YouGov stats indicating that 48% of Brits have been cheated on. Furthermore, 33% admit to cheating on their partner. Diana had a similar experience when she realised she'd nearly become The Other Woman. For most stand up comedians their arena is a stadium. For Ted Pullin, it's his kitchen table and a microphone wedged on the end of a wooden spoon. His quintessentially brutal British humour has exploded in popularity on TikTok, where he roasts people's dating profiles – no holds barred. The videos show screenshots of someone's dating profile and he then savagely picks them apart in excruciating detail, commenting on facial expressions, poses, outfit choices and poor chat. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video So I sent mine in to be roasted. Questioning which online persona from my profile would actually turn up on a date, he said: 'Will it be the f**k-off-face dog-thief or will it be the melanin intolerant Brit abroad?' Honestly, who knows? I got called out for attempting to flex my celebrity following, but upon hearing it consists of John Cena, Ted said: 'If I was a nine-year-old boy, that would get me really excited.' Want to see what else was wrong with my profile? Read more here. 'There was a guy and we were chatting online but he wouldn't meet me again and I didn't understand why,' she says on the podcast. More Trending 'Then I saw he'd posted a picture of him and his partner that moved in with him… I don't know if it worked out because he's been trying to reach out again.' But our caller Rebecca's story is proof that dating apps do still work in 2025, despite claims that they're dying. You've just got to have your red flag radar on in your search for The One. View More » Listen to the full story at Just Between Us now, available wherever you get your podcasts. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I'm the tennis-mad fan who proposed on Henman Hill at Wimbledon MORE: I married an AI bot – my human wife doesn't mind at all MORE: My kids were hurt by my outburst – until I said this
Metro
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
I thought my date was too young but I was the immature one
'Happy belated birthday!' I exclaimed, clinking pint glasses with my date, Taylor*. He'd just told me that he was a Leo, which I deemed the perfect opportunity to broach the subject of age. 'I'm a Libra.' I started. 'My birthday's coming up in October and I'm freaking out because I'll be turning 30.' I paused for dramatic effect, but he simply smiled. 'Thirty is no age.' His face radiated warmth and I felt relieved. For months now I'd been dreading the big 3-0, plagued by thoughts like 'Should I freeze my eggs?' and 'Should I get Botox? ' 'Ooh, almost 30!' friends and strangers would yell when I revealed that I was 29, which only fed into my ageing anxiety. Mostly though, I'd decided it was time to settle down. I'd enjoyed my fair share of singledom flings, long-term relationships, and heartbreaks scattered throughout my twenties, but now I was ready to get serious. Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! And that's how I'd found myself on a date with Taylor. As someone who had met all their exes in real life, I had been a late bloomer with dating apps. Luckily, London offers a wealth of choice. I set my criteria – older than me and open to marriage and children – and off I went swiping. I dedicated as much time and energy to dating as I did with my career, my band, and my social life. Surely, a 24-year-old wasn't ready to settle down? I made a point of going on three first dates a week. I fancied some guys who didn't fancy me and became friends with several after we mutually realised romance wasn't our destiny. Of course, I also gently turned down men I didn't fancy and blocked those who became weird – perhaps the strangest interaction I had was with one who blasted me with photos of his house rabbit and pretended to be said rabbit. I also hit on people in pubs and at gigs, and I spread the word with my friends asking them to set me up. That's when my friend, Lily, sent me a photo of her single friend, Taylor. 'You'll really like him; you guys have a weird amount in common. And you both have luscious hair!' She beamed. I was attracted to his looks and didn't press for more information. I assumed he was our age. I gave Lily the green light and half an hour later, Taylor messaged me. He dove straight into my availability for a date; there was no idle small talk. And it wasn't long before he took the initiative to arrange a date in Camden for the following night. His go-getting approach was already very attractive to me and, when I arrived at the bar, and I saw that he was gorgeous in the flesh, I knew we were off to a promising start. He had thick brown hair, soulful brown eyes, and perfect teeth. But it wasn't just his looks that sucked me in, we really did have a lot in common. We had both been in bands with record deals as teenagers. We'd learned foreign languages and dabbled in art. So, How Did It Go? is a weekly series that will make you cringe with second-hand embarrassment or ooze with jealousy as people share their worst and best date stories. Want to spill the beans about your own awkward encounter or love story? Contact In fact, there hadn't been a single red flag all night, until our astrology conversation. Relieved that he wasn't repulsed by my impending new decade status, I naturally asked him how old he was. He confidently replied that he was 24. My heart sank. Surely, a 24-year-old wasn't ready to settle down? I'd dated guys who were six years older than me, but never younger. I fancied the pants off Taylor, and he wasn't bothered by the age gap – but it really was a humdinger. So, assuming it would scare him off, I told him I was ready for a husband. I didn't want to reject him, but my desire to settle down soon was real. It didn't deter him. I felt conflicted. I didn't want to cut and run – the conversation flowed effortlessly, and I really liked him. Despite the age bombshell, there was undeniable chemistry between us. He lined up the second date that night and, despite my reservations, I agreed to it. Why not have a bit of fun and see where it goes? On the Tube journey to meet him the following Thursday, I had excited butterflies in the pit of my stomach. That night, Taylor generously treated me to dinner – he wouldn't let me pay, despite my drunken claims of being 'way older' – and then we went on to knock back frozen margaritas at several Soho bars. During one slurred and drunk diatribe, he interrupted me by passionately kissing me. As our lips parted, he smiled and said: 'You're beautiful.' I immediately felt shy and batted away his compliment. After that the PDA was hot and heavy. We kissed for what felt like hours as we bounced from bar to bar and by the time we left we were both suitably drunk – though he could definitely hold his alcohol better. Since we lived in the same area, he suggested we take the Tube back together and offered to walk me home. It was on the ride home that I suddenly felt the urge to vomit. I caught most of the fluorescent puke in my handbag – these things can always be cleaned or replaced – but Taylor was fraught with worry. We'd only managed one stop before he ordered us off the Tube and more frozen margaritas followed close behind. When it eventually stopped, he grabbed a water bottle from his rucksack and told me to gently sip from it as he guided me onto the next Tube. I felt comforted by his gallant and non-judgemental attitude. Back at my flat, he made toast while I fiercely brushed my teeth and then he helped me into bed, instructing me to lie on my side before bidding me goodnight. There was absolutely no funny business. Taylor was relieved I had a flatmate; I wouldn't be alone when he left. When I woke up the next morning, the hangxiety was overwhelming. Vomiting all over the Tube? I fully expected to never hear from him again. As my hangover slowly faded, I received several caring, yet still somewhat concerned, messages from Taylor. Even more amazingly, despite my immature and drunken antics, he was not dissuaded and asked me out on a third date. We continued to date each other even after my 30th birthday and I didn't bring up our age gap again. I had a couple of first dates with other guys that autumn, but we didn't click – as fate would have it, though, we both met other people that November. He was more mature than I'd ever be Taylor was keen to meet up, as he 'had some news'. My intuition told me he had also met someone else. He was genuinely happy for me. I was equally happy for him. His handling of the whole situation made me realise that even though Taylor might be six years younger than me, he was more mature than I'd ever be. Ironically, the other guy I met was older but completely immature. Now I believe age is just a number and have eschewed my age criteria. Looking back on our dates, I regret letting Taylor get away. More Trending I have bumped into him several times since we dated, but it's not awkward. He still smiles sincerely at me, and I feel nostalgic for the memories and a little regretful. All I know is that, if a younger guy asks you out, say yes! *Names have been changed View More » This article was originally published July 28, 2025 Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I spoke out for Palestine – then came the police interrogation MORE: I've embraced free bleeding when I'm on my period MORE: I had mind-blowing sex – and formed a new golden rule
