:hands out vomit bags in advance:
NRJ: I vote no on inappropriate. I'm a fan of hugs
M: K me too.
NRJ: "

"
...random few messages over the span of 15 minutes or so...
M: so if you happen to "need something out of your truck" and feel like I a hug I will come hug you very quickly? Yes? Ok deal.
M: it's just a rare one time request, bc I especially need one.
NRJ (grinning like the ####### Cheshire cat): Haha yes. Deal. When?
M: Now? Just tell me
NRJ: OK. Yep.
My kids are still up, but making preparations for bed, but still milling around the house. My son is doing his nightly routine of shooting a few free throws on the Nerf hoop after brushing his teeth, so he's making all kinds of racket inside. I slip out onto the porch, and she's headed towards my house, through the yard. She says "heyyyy" and I meet her at the bottom of my steps. She grabs my shoulders and pulls me in, pressing her chest against mine tightly, and wrapping her arms around me. So I wrap mine around her as well and we just stand there for about 30 seconds, not saying a word, just soaking it in. About that time, my son shot a brick apparently and it bounced off the window/blinds, and scared the #### out of Marissa and I. We both jumped, thinking we were busted, then we started laughing. She quickly turned and tiptoed back to her yard, and I went back in and got the kids in bed, and they were none the wiser.
NRJ: Damn kids.
M: Lol. Good hug. Thank you.
NRJ: Agreed. And thank you.
M: anytime!
....mostly randomness, but I did work in a "that was not my best hug effort" and she insisted she liked it regardless...
M: Well I desperately needed a hug
NRJ: *nods* I thought so
M: You needed one too you just didn't know it
NRJ: I think you may be right
....M explains why she needed a hug (I will not disclose why here), I say I understand and glad I was able to help her out...
M: Me too. You have to initiate the next one though.
NRJ: I pretty much initiated that one hours ago didn't I? (

)
M: well sort of, but I came up with the plan to actually make it happen
NRJ: yes you did
NRJ: Perhaps, theoretically, say I left something ELSE in my truck and had to go get it in a little while?
M: LOL what is a little while?
NRJ: Any time between right now and when I (you) go to bed?
NRJ: I mean my schedule is pretty wide open from not to bedtime.
NRJ: Theoretically
M: How about right now?
NRJ:
This time, I wait for her to come all the way to my porch. She greets me again, and she kind of slithered up next to me and slinked her arms around me and laid her head on my shoulder/neck area and just sighed a long deep breath. She seemed content. I was definitely content. On the offdee quivalent of a hugs scale, it was a 9.5. it definitely felt "right" and it definitely felt like more than a friendly hug.
Now, I'm sure I just opened myself up for some laughs and critique of my replies, but I posted the texts above just to give you an idea of her personality that I've gotten to know and probably haven't conveyed through my posts. She's very quick-witted and funny and gives me #### right back if I give her ####. I dig that in a chick. We have played very well off of each other thus far, I think.
She did offer that she hoped it wasn't too much and she is just very physically affectionate. I told her it was most definitely not too much. She says it's kind of a delicate situation, being as she lives right next door and she didn't want to make things awkward. I agreed and said there was no awkwardness from my point of view, with which she agreed. --so
basically she's on the same page I am, I feel. Just proceeding with extreme caution, which I am fine with. I'm being cautious as well. There's a lot at stake here for all involved.
There has been discussion of said hug this morning, and the analysis is good. Early prognosis is also good for future endeavors. No specific plans made just yet, but I'd expect that to be in the mix very soon.
I don't know where it'll end up, or how fast, but it's absolutely been a much-needed fun couple of weeks for me, so I look forward to what lies ahead. So I understand if anyone or everyone wants to tap out of this thread now, but I can guaran-### ####-tee you it's not a fishing trip. I appreciate the advice (well, most of it) and well-wishes, and the entertainment you SOBs have provided.
As you were, men (and women).