...has weird "Rules for Dating"

How to Survive the first Couple of months in a new relationship. Part One: Second dates. 

As many people meet potential partners in a fleeing moment and pass numbers this passage is about after you've met them. i.e. you've met someone at a party and spent several hours together now its about a date.

Cora* my dear dear friend is loved by me for many reasons. Mostly since we are both singletons and so can go out on the town for some Simple Flirtatious Fun! 

However, as with women everywhere, whenever we meet a guy we are forced to repeat the same old story of "will he call? Won't he call? Should I call him? " .... admit it, every girl I know does this! 

Cora recently met a new man and thus told me her 6 rules for talking to new men: 

1. Can't text/call a guy within 3 days or you will seem desperate. [unless he does first]
2. Can't text/call a guy after 3 days as he will think there is another player involved. 
3. Limit any text message with 1 kiss as not too sound too clingy.
4. All messages/calls should sound flirty and fun, without need for him to reply instantly. 
5. NEVER text drunken messages. Give the phone to friends if need be. 
6. During planning of second dates leave the ball in his court.

Mine are:

1. Text/Call when you think it's necessary. Men are just as scared about sounding desperate so leaving flirty messages that needn't be replied too are key sometimes. Personal favourite "Had fun yesterday, I had a good time thanks". If he replies carry forth.
2. Leaving a text more than 3 days could make him think you're seeing someone else. Be straight and truthful. If there's a reason tell him. Or a little white lie works too. Just make sure you're able to back it up. 
3. I always put 2 kisses [xx] at the end of my messages. To everyone. Most people I know do, so 1 kiss shouldn't strike fear in him. Although this works both ways - if they put hundreds...run! 
4. Open ended textes keep a conversation going. I discovered that if you play about with open textes [one he has to answer] and close messages [something that doesn't need a reply] it helps to know if he's interested in talking to you and what you're saying.
5. Never drunken text. Ever. And if you do apologise in the morning and declare drunken memory loss.
6. Second dates? An embarrassing question for both of you. Don't drop hints about how you'd love to watch this movie or go such a place. Just causally ask it - if not to face by phone "hey, was wondering if you wanted to meet up again sometime soon" . Worst thing he says no and you move on. Think ripping off a band-aid - it will sting, you're stomach will flip and then you'll eat ice cream as girlfriends slate everything about him. 

Please note that this is just how I handle the first couple of meetings with a potential partner and in no way should be yours. It all comes with that horrible thing we call experience and reading between the lines.

If in doubt, ask someone for their opinion!