So, you’ve done all the hard stuff to get to this point: After successfully finagling your way into a first date, you’ve set the stage for the perfect evening and picked out a nice restaurant, donned some nice threads and picked her up right when you said you would. Now you find yourself mid-date and you’re looking for some first-date success cues, wondering what she thinks about you and, more importantly, what your chances are of getting some action a bit later. The following is a list of some first-date success cues that usually mean that she likes what she sees. We also felt obligated to give you some advice on how you should respond to her cues in order to sustain the date’s momentum — right up until its earth-shattering climax later that night.
She asks a lot of questions about you
It’s a definite first-date success cue when women get inquisitive on a date, because it generally means that they are interested in you. If she’s firing off query after query — especially about things like your family and your job — she wants to know more about you and she’s possibly already even considering what it might be like to have a relationship with you.
Your response: Don’t let her turn it into a Barbara Walters special in which you open up about your greatest fears in life and break down in tears. What you should do, however, is gently turn the table and show her that you’re interested in her life as well. A self-deprecating comment like, “God, I must be boring you to death with stories of my Jerry Springer-inspired youth; tell me more about you,” usually does the trick here.
She ignores her cell
Essentially, when a girl ignores her cell phone it means that she’s not interested in anyone else but you for the remainder of the evening, which is a great sign, as far as first-date success cues go. Not many people are that selfless and considerate, so you can safely assume that you’ve impressed her.
Your response: Do the same — make her the center of your universe for the next two hours; she will certainly enjoy the attention and might even reward you for it later. Of course, you don’t really need to completely ignore your cell phone; put it on vibrate and when you feel the buzz, hit the bathroom to check on any important missed calls.
She orders another round
When your date orders another round of drinks, it’s typically a sign that your date’s feeling comfortable and wouldn’t mind shedding some of her inhibitions with you — if that’s not a ringer of a first-date success cue, we don’t know what is. Don’t, however, confuse her indulgences for a girl who is drinking for other reasons, in particular, that she is so bored she needs to get wasted to alleviate the pain of spending an evening in your company.
Your response: Drink up and enjoy it. Good things happen when strangers get drunk together — especially on first dates. This could be the start of a beautiful dependency.
She makes physical contact
Physical contact is good, but deliberate and lingering contact is even better and it might as well seal the deal as far as we’re concerned. If she touches your shoulder on her way to the ladies room or brushes your thigh after you make a joke, give yourself a mental high five. These are first-date success cues that tell you her body is in tune with yours, and good things are coming your way.
Your response: Give her some back and show her that you’re into physical contact and would especially be interested in some more with her. Be careful not to overdo it though, as you don’t want to give the impression that you’re a smothering creep.
Her body language mirrors yours
It’s a weird subconscious mating ritual, but we humans like to mimic the objects of our desires. If you tap your toes, sip your drink or lean back in your chair, and your date does the same, it means that she’s on your wavelength and a romantic connection has already been made. You don’t need to start clucking like a chicken to test this, just keep it in mind as one of the first-date success cues for which to look.
Your response: Continue to pay particular attention to the placement of your body and your date’s corresponding body language. Remain open and facing her (never cross your arms), and give her the impression that your body is a warm and safe place where she is welcome to seek shelter (for a few hours).
She wants to know where you live
Again, she’s probably thinking about the future here as she envisions what it might be like for the two of you to spend more time together. Maybe she’s interested in the next date or maybe she’s already planning what her journey, from your apartment back to hers the following morning, will involve.
Your response: Lay the groundwork. Tell her you love entertaining at home and that she should come around some time in the future. Perhaps the two of you could have a DVD night next time? At the end of the night, if things are still going well, you could always suggest the tour right then.
sign o’ the times
OK, we might have gone a little overboard with the suggestions that any of these first-date success cues could land a girl in your love chamber, but then again, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibilities. All in all, if your date displays any one of these characteristics on your night out, take it as a sign that you’re doing great and keep doing it — no more, no less. And, in all honesty, women aren’t that hard to figure out, so if you’re hitting on all the points we’ve mentioned, you’re probably going home with your date.