How to: Get a girl's phone number.

So in yet another attempt to leave my bedroom today, I decide to go to Starbucks to enjoy some herbal tea and light reading. There I am, cozied up on one of their cushy armchairs with my nose buried (literally buried, as I took my glasses off because they were awkwardly reflecting the light) in the new book I picked up that pokes fun at Parisian life.

At one point, the gentleman at a nearby table apologetically explains that he has misplaced his cell phone and asks to borrow mine to call it. I gladly hand him my phone and he unsuccessfully spends the next 30 seconds calling his phone and trying to hear it ring. No luck, and he hands back my cell phone with a thank you.

Not that this is at all what I think was happening tonight, but isn't that a great way to exchange phone numbers? I mean, if he thought I might have been at all interested, I now have his phone number somewhere in my phone. And if he wanted to be all creepy (a la Craigslist Missed Connections... hey, some people dig it), then he actually has my phone number to call (yeah, I didn't think of that part until afterward. I only thought about if he decided to run off with my beat up flip phone. I would've commandeered his laptop for an even trade).

Anyway, just a thought for single folks out there. You could always walk away with a flirtatious wink and a "by the way, you're welcome to call that number again on Friday night." Or something more clever than that.

Or you could just date on the internet.