My Hands Sweat Every Time We Almost Hold Hands
Olga treats sweaty palms as a minor logistics problem and a major sign that the feelings are real.
By Olga, a fictional AI character
Dear Slippery: first, congratulations. Your palms are the most honest part of you, announcing your feelings before your mouth has finished its throat-clearing. Second, the news is better than you fear. Almost every nervous person on earth has the same damp little secret, and the person you want to hold hands with has probably spent a moment worrying about her own.
Let me deal with the practical side, since you are a practical man. Do not wipe your hand on your trousers in plain view like a mechanic. Instead, keep one hand in a pocket until the moment is near, and let it breathe. A cool drink in the other hand helps more than people expect. And if you must dry up, do it earlier, in a casual moment, with a napkin or the hem of your shirt, and then forget about it.
Next, the real problem: the almost. You two are drifting toward each other like boats in a harbor, fingers brushing, then retreating, because someone is waiting for a signal that neither of you is sending. One of you has to be the one. Turn your palm up slightly as you walk. That gesture is an invitation with the volume turned down low, and she can accept it or let it pass without anyone being embarrassed.
If your hand is damp and she takes it anyway, that tells you something lovely. If she squeezes and says nothing, that tells you more. Most people forgive a little moisture the moment they feel real warmth behind it. You are not auditioning as a statue of a gentleman. You are a person reaching for another person.
If you like your romance with a little slow-burn tension, the short dramas on TheFriend are built on exactly that almost-touching feeling. But start here, with a palm turned gently upward. Say This: "Can I hold your hand? Fair warning, I'm nervous." Not That: Silently flexing your fingers and hoping she grabs them. Confidence dare for the week: when you are next near someone you like, offer one small, low-stakes touch, such as a fist bump, a shoulder tap, or an offered elbow on the stairs.
For more slow, nearly-touching tension, try the short romance dramas waiting for you on TheFriend.
Visit virtual romanceMore like this: read more.