There are are few things more unpleasant (that’s not true, I can think of like a million things, but whatever) than having someone who makes you uneasy, ask for your number when you don’t want to give it out.

On the other hand, there are few things more exciting (again, inaccurate) than being asked out by someone you really like.

So how do we keep the action going without making anyone uncomfortable?

For a lot of people it’s hard to say “No” to anyone directly because they feel cold and rude. While it’s totally within everyone’s rights to just say no and peace out, I, too, tend to dance around the question.

On more than one occasion I’ve given a fake number to a guy only to have them attempt to call me right on the spot and realize it’s wrong… I guess they’ve had that pulled on them before? Now that I’ve learned my lesson I don’t give out fake numbers. Instead I say, “I don’t give my number out, but I’ll take yours!”

Thinking about that response I wondered, why people don’t just give theirnumber to the person they’re asking out? Either way they end up with your number because if you text them then, ya know.

Giving a potential date your number gives them agency over whether they’ll contact you and doesn’t put them in an uncomfortable position. It also saves you from embarrassment in case the person you ask isn’t feeling it. And finally, it makes you look like a dream boat. If someone casually came up to me and gave me their number saying, “Hey, I think you’re cool. Here’s my number! I hope you text me some time…” Well, I would text them…