Ask A Guy: Why Do Guys Vanish After A Great First Date?


I’ve gone out with three different guys in the past month. With all of these guys, we talk and have a good time for a few hours over coffee. He asks me out for a second date, and takes down my phone number. He even talks specifics for the next date (what day, what we might do). None of these guys actually call me to schedule the next date. What is going on here? I can see this happening maybe once, but three times? …and what is the rationale behind asking a girl out and then never calling? If he doesn’t like me, why doesn’t he just not ask me out again, or just not ask for my phone number?

Read on for our guy’s response!

Well, it could be one of two things. Either the guys really genuinely do like you and do want to go on a date or they don’t and they don’t want to hurt your feelings.

If they did want to go on a second date with you, then maybe the reason they’re not calling you is because they don’t think you’re into them. Guys can be somewhat uneasy at first when they meet a woman. It varies from guy to guy (and also depends on how many women he’s dated), but sometimes it takes a bright blinking neon sign in order for a guy to know that a woman likes him.

As guys get more experienced with women, they generally know that their best bet is to assume the woman is interested in them and act accordingly (respectfully, of course). However, not all guys come from this place of internal validation and they look to the woman for signs to see if she’s attracted. Meanwhile, if the woman is guarded, playing hard-to-get or just not a very expressive type of person, the guy will feel like “she’s not that into him”.

I mean, it is possible that these guys don’t want to hurt your feelings and so they say they’ll go on another date, but from what you described it does sound a little odd to have 3 different guys do virtually the same thing.

Now a woman might ask, “What are things that women might unconsciously do that signal to a guy that she’s not interested.” Off the top of my head, I would say:

  • Texting/taking a phone call during a date (I mean, if you genuinely have to and you’re apologetic, that’s fine. Otherwise, red flag.)
  • Not smiling.
  • Not really participating in the conversation. He talks and you respond with a minimal response and an unexcited tone.
  • Actively showing disinterest in talking with him – paying attention to other things happening in the room, checking the time, etc. etc.

At the same time, there’s a possibility that you could be coming across too eager. This is a definite scenario where a guy will want to get out of there as soon as possible and disappear. What makes a guy think you’re too eager? I think it mainly comes down to one thing: you communicate that you have some problem (you’re not happy with your life, you don’t like being single, you are depressed, etc.) and then you talk about how you’ve been looking for a relationship.

Guys aren’t anti-relationship. Guys will get into a relationship with a woman who brings out the best in them and who they feel great being with. But if you communicate to him that a relationship with him is going to be some kind of life-preserver or crutch or key to being happy, he will definitely not want to pursue a relationship. His feeling is that he’s got enough problems of his own to deal with without having to take on someone else’s.Ho

However, these are definitely not the types of things that a woman would say outright. I can’t imagine a woman saying, “I am pretty miserable, but I want you to date me because I think it will make me feel better.” Who knows… maybe some women have.

Usually the guy pieces together whether or not dating you is going to be more of a liability than a good thing for him. He asks about your life. He gets a sense of how much you enjoy your life and what you do in your life. If you pretty much don’t enjoy anything - you don’t really like your friends anymore, you don’t like your job, you don’t like your lifestyle, etc. – then he is definitely going to avoid dating you because he doesn’t want to be the guy who has to perk you up.

So if you feel like you might fall into the category of being too eager for a date or relationship, then it would be worthwhile to start exploring ways to enjoy your life more in it of itself. Enjoy being with your friends, enjoy doing things that you love, enjoy what you’re doing in the meantime. Take care of yourself. Enjoy your life so much that you could be perfectly content not having a date or a boyfriend for a while. When you learn to love life while being single, love inevitably finds you. (Yuck, so cliche, but it seemed like a nice ending and it’s true.)

Recommended Reading: How to Turn Off a Man On Your First Date.

Hope it helps!

- eric charles

P.S. If you think your guy might be losing interest in you or pulling away, then you have to check this out here: How To Keep Him Attracted And Loving You Forever

{ 16 comments… add one }

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  • Salli March 14, 2012 at 3:18 am

    Hi Eric,
    I went on a first date with this guy, who asked me out. During the date we talked for about 2.5 hours non-stop. He was a gent and paid for dinner, so later that night I texted him ” thanks for dinner, I had fun.” He texted back, “yeah I did too, have fun at work tomorrow ;) ”.
    When should I text him back…. All my friends are like…. Don’t text him till 3-4 days later or else you will seem needy. But I don’t want him to feel like I am not interested either. But I don’t know how to respond back to his text because it is a closed response….does it warrant a response? I really like this guy. We seemed to click, but….I hate playing the game….

    Reply
  • Roni March 6, 2012 at 5:14 am

    Hi Eric
    I had never found a website like yours that offers such practical advice. I like the fact that you say things as they are no matter how hard some facts are to take in. I have a male close friend that I have gone out with over the last several months but we ended up kissing twice and since then things have changed. Communication has really slowed and he seems more withdrawn but reading some of your articles has not only helped me answer lots of questions that I had but also learn how to deal with the situation and believe me I am doing really well that one wouldn’t know unless I told them so thanks again.

    Reply
  • nina December 9, 2011 at 10:45 pm

    I’ve had a similar problem where the guys actually initiate contact after the first date, call and txts, coming on pretty strong and interested and then cancels the second date at the last second (practically standing me up) .. This has happened to me 3 times in a row? I liked these guys..so after they cancel I initially get upset, they apologize, but then I start chasing them by contacting them..which they respond to initially..and then it fizzles out..

    Reply
  • Kelly December 4, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    What if one is trapped in a depressing rural town due to a seemingly endless cycle of poverty and poor health?

    Reply
    • Eric Charles December 4, 2011 at 10:05 pm

      You can either take the attitude of a victim or of a proactive person.
      .
      And if you feel this is the case for you, then you would do best to do whatever you have to do to free yourself from your situation. No sense in thinking about having a relationship if your life isn’t in order for it.

      Reply
  • Kelly December 4, 2011 at 5:35 am

    What if ones life really is completely negative? And that guy really would be the only good thing to look forward to that day? What’s there left to do, be fake? I say its good to be yourself and instead if making up stories going on about how eventful your life is, go ahead and say look things arentgreat right now I’m not gonna lie.
    Just my two cents.

    Reply
    • Eric Charles December 4, 2011 at 12:08 pm

      If one’s life is COMPLETELY negative, then they need to fix their life immediately. Good relationships flow from a good, full, well-balanced life.
      .
      Even in tough times, it’s possible to have a positive attitude and to be optimistic.
      .
      No faking necessary.

      Reply
  • L October 28, 2011 at 10:28 am

    What those guys did was rude, plain and simple. Asking for a date and not following up is a obnoxious way to act no matter how many pretty explanations you can think of for how it’s actually the woman’s fault. Why do guys do this? Because no one is willing to say it’s rude and unacceptable.

    Reply
  • shana September 10, 2011 at 1:00 am

    ive been with this guy and we had a good time for the fist date in the second date we made out and he didnt call or text after that :( ( what is going on?

    Reply
  • Jessye Davis July 18, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    Had a double blind “outing” with a mature man (Bob) (I am a mature woman). My girlfriend (Carol) set it up. My girlfriend reinforced to Bob that it was just an outing, not a date. So although we all had a great time. (Bob brought his friend along for Carol and we had great fun. Carol’s date asked for her phone number, but Bob never asked for my number. Bob really seemed to like me, but again he never asked for my number. Bob’s daughter is married to Carol’s son. I really like Bob, but again, he never asked for my phone number.
    What does that mean?

    Reply
  • Sherell April 23, 2011 at 12:20 am

    I think just saying you had a good time at the end of the date is enough. Let him pursue you, if he is interested. Asking if he feels the same or asking if he is interested comes off as desperate and probably turns guys off. No challenge.

    Reply
  • sara January 6, 2011 at 9:21 am

    Hi Eric

    I want your help on understanding what happened in my last relationship. Its a long story, is there any chance I could email you in private?

    Love Sara x

    Reply
  • Gracey January 19, 2010 at 9:14 pm

    well, obviously, if the guy is interested, he’d ask you out again. not doin’ so just means he’s not that interested or not so into you. :)

    Reply
  • Heather September 7, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    I have had this happen too. Usually after a date I will email or text, thank him for a wonderful time, the dinner, whatever, say I had fun and would be interested in hearing from him again if he feels the same. And then leave it. I have also asked them to be completely honest and tell me if they are not interested. I am a big girl and can handle the rejection rather then the days of waiting to hear from someone who won’t be calling.
    I hate the dating game.

    Reply
  • Eric Charles August 25, 2009 at 11:13 pm

    Yeah, you could say it like that.

    It happens, but it’s usually not the case with secure and/or experienced guys.

    Reply
  • Keli August 25, 2009 at 10:21 am

    So you’re saying, “that he’s just not into you” could be because he did not think you were into him…

    oh boi.

    Reply

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