The Mysterious Kevin R

While out at the Eagle Friday night, I ran into gorgeous longtime friend Kevin Rayford.

Our friendship actually started as a date about six or seven years ago. But it was a one-time thing that wasn’t even consummated: I think he was pretty freaked out about my disclosure that I’m HIV positive.

We see each other pretty often around town, and sometimes he’s cool or taciturn, and other times he’s upbeat and talkative — which I’m sure is just about his mood of the moment. Friday night was definitely the latter, and while my houseguest Henry was cruising the bar, Kevin and I had a long talk about homeownership, my career troubles, his getting back to painting, and a lot of other stuff. By the end of the conversation — he had to work Saturday morning, and needed to leave — he was being very flirty, holding my hand and stuff.

In a very unexpected gesture of friendship, he said he’d like to introduce me to another TV producing friend of his that could maybe be a job contact, and he named a time and place for dinner this week for the three of us. I was touched.

We’ll see what happens with that, but honestly, I’m pretty intimidated about exploring whether Kevin is interested in being more than just bar friends, because his pressing the abort button on our date all those years ago has left me a little bit wounded. Still, he’s smart, nice, talented and beautiful. Hmm.