I met Vitaly in a coffee shop, of course. He is part of another Tale From Sip and Go Girl. These are my real stories about dates and fellas I’ve met in my life.

The Starbucks in which we met is one of my regular stores. I’m there every Sunday morning, almost without fail. I told Vitaly this, in fact, while we were there.

He was very quiet and said very little. Vitaly had a strong Russian accent and was shy. Those are big reasons he was so quiet.

Toward the end of our time at Starbucks, he suddenly told me, “I live close to here. Very close. I have many fine wines. Red wines. You like red wine?”

“Yes,” I said.

“I am happy to pour you a glass of red wine.”

“No thank you. My coffee is fine.”

I was not going to his home for a glass of red wine or for anything.

I did agree to go out with him again. We met for sushi a week later.

Again, toward the end of our date he told me, “I live close to here. Very close. I have many fine wines. Red wines. You like red wine?”

“Yes,” I said.

“I am happy to pour you a glass of red wine.”

“No thank you. My water is fine.”

I decided that because I was not eager to spend time with him alone, maybe I was not interested. The next few times he contacted me, I declined his offers.

After about two weeks of saying “no”, I was in the same Starbucks on Sunday. I was engrossed in reading the newspaper and cutting coupons when suddenly Vitaly appeared in front of me.

“Hello,” he said. And then he sat down.

The week after that? He again appeared in front of me, said hello, and sat down.

The third week, I was concerned on my way to the coffee shop. What if he appeared again?

I called my ex husband who lived on that side of town and often traveled the roads near that Starbucks. I told him what was happening.

“If you happen to be driving by, take a peek into the store and see if I’m there and if a really quiet guy is just sitting there across from me. He’s creeping me out.”

Sure enough, Vitaly appeared in front of me and sat down.

Just moments later, in walked Steve the ex. He introduced himself to Vitaly. Vitaly looked like he had been caught stealing. He gave a meek greeting to Steve and quickly left.

I never heard from or saw Vitaly again.

Since then, however, I’ve become much stronger about setting boundaries. And I certainly wouldn’t ask my ex for help in my love life.

Should another Vitaly appear over and over in my usual haunts despite my constant refusals for dates and for red wine, I shall tell him, “You’re creeping me out.”