How to Tell If You’re Actually Dating or Just “Hanging Out”
A few nights ago I asked my girlfriend Emma how her boyfriend was—and she almost spit her wine out. I thought something super juicy was coming.
I was wrong.
“I don’t have a boyfriend. He’s not my boyfriend. Wait, why, do you think he’s my boyfriend? IS HE MY BOYFRIEND?”
Call me crazy, but I thought he was her boyfriend. He takes her to dinner. And went apple picking with her—and those are just two examples I threw out there. But according to Emma, he can go days without communicating with her (OK, a little strange) and sometimes comes over and hangs out—and that’s it. They just watch a movie and there’s no physical contact except for a warm hug hello and then goodbye.
After dissecting the past couple of months of her life, we were both wondering what was really going on with them. Here, a few things that hopefully help us all figure out the difference between dating and “just hanging out.”
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Dating: He’ll try new things with you because he knows it will make you happy. Squeee!
Hanging Out: He’s busy that day.
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Dating: He slips his credit card into the little black folder without looking at the dinner bill. You’re worth it, girl.
Hanging Out: You split the dinner bill and trade off buying rounds at the crappy bar.
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Dating: He calls, texts, tweets, or hires an airplane to sky-write “Hello” over your apartment. Either way, there’s an abundance of communication happening.
Hanging Out: You’re always wondering if you should call. Or wait for him to text you.
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Dating: There are day dates minus alcohol.
Hanging Out: The 3 A.M. text: “What’s up?” (You know what’s up.)
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Dating: He knows your middle name, how you take your coffee, and that your best friend is pregnant.
Hanging Out: He knows what kind of beer you like.
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Dating: He comes to the door to pick you up and waits while you finish getting ready. Winning!
Hanging Out: He texts you the address of his cousin’s friend’s party … if you wanna meet up.
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Dating: The forehead kiss. That is all.
Hanging Out: There’s a lot of tongue.
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Dating: He sends you flowers on your birthday.
Hanging Out: The only reason he knows it’s your birthday is because you sent him that group Evite to the karaoke party you planned.
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Dating: There’s so much cuddling.
Hanging Out: Sometimes he falls alseep on you during the movie.
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Dating: He loves your dog.
Hanging Out: He thinks your relationship with your dog is strange. (Run, girls, run.)
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