I was out with my friends the other night and I got a text from Shawn. It was after midnight and he was letting me know he was back from his trip. He wanted to know if I was out. My motto is always "the more the merrier" so I texted him the address of where we were and told him to come meet us.

I was talking to a very cute guy and realized that I really didn't want Shawn to come. I hadn't spoken to his since our "date" and didn't think the time of his text was really that respectful. I called him and told him she should catch up another time — I said my friends were leaving and I had to be up early — both of which were true.

He asked me to stay and said he was only around the corner. I was annoyed but agreed to wait. We had a drink at the bar and I was a bit aloof. He mentioned he got back from his trip two days before. I probably rolled my eyes and told him that I really didn't think it was appropriate to call me so late when he had two days to make plans. We live in a technologically advanced era — phones and e-mail both work on business trips.

I didn't think I was being unreasonable. I told him I had to head home. I was cranky in the cab and a bit over it, so I was completely honest. I explained that I wasn't expecting miracles from anyone, but that the comment he made about marriage and family was very candid.

I knew that we had only gone out once but I had to be honest as well. I told him that I wasted over six years with someone who didn't want the same things I did. I didn't want to waste any more time with someone now who doesn't share my desire to have a family.

He told me he could be proven wrong, and that even though we'd only just met, he thinks there might be some sort of connection between us. He shared some personal stories with me that explained many of his feelings, but the situations he shared were very similar to ones I'd already been through with Steve.

How can you even begin to let someone in who, in the end, doesn't really know what he wants or what he may be capable of wanting? And how can I risk putting myself through the same thing again?