Apparently I Do Have to Spell It O-U-T

So the situation that I thought had been resolved apparently wasn't.

This became clear tonight when I opened my e-mail and found a letter from Friend's Friend. In it, he asks what my week is like and, well, see for yourself. He writes:

I'd like to either buy you lunch or cook you dinner, under a date-ish pretext since last time we were just hanging out.

And I was floored. Because I thought we were at that level of understanding. Apparently not. I explained the situation to male friend. "Is there anything a girl can do -- short of spelling it out for you in tiny words -- that would indicate you are never getting in her pants?" My friend said some guys can take a hint, but many do in fact live in a state of constant optimism.

Which is understandable to me. I don't pretend to understand guys and lord knows us women are great at giving out mixed signals. Like how us "hanging out" signaled to FF that I liked him. But I thought the whole post-kiss e-mails sort of cleared that up. Here's what I wrote to him after the kiss-attempt:

"The truth is I'm sort of a happy, flirty person and I tend to be all giggly and happy with everyone, which if you've only met me a few times might give the wrong impression. I'm sorry I may have led you on?"

My guy friend noted that while this implies I only like him as a friend--and most people would get it--obviously FF is a bit stubborn. Or slow. Something like that. "You'll have to come out and say, 'I only like you as a friend,'" he told me.

Apparently so. But how annoying. I know us girls are confusing, but when I am appalled at your attempt to kiss me and then send you a letter explaining that I am SORRY if I LED YOU ON, it should be more than clear how I feel about you.

Right? Right? GAH!