Game On! (Maybe)

I have issues with friends from different circles meeting each other. Being a true Gemini, I am borderline schizophrenic and have wildly differing interests and moods that attract friends who seem like they wouldn't hit it off. For example, how can I expect my friend K, with whom I bonded over snark and cynicism and general bitchery, to like W, with whom I've wandered the Huntington rose gardens and gone to high tea? It just seems unlikely.

I've been working on battling this irrational fear the last few years, but it's been challenging. Whenever I'm planning something that involves bringing different circles together, my stomach sort of hurts and gets all fluttery. This happened at the doggie party the weekend before last. Of course, everything always turns out fine, but I can't help feeling that anxiety. (Ugh. I don't even want to think about the colliding of worlds my wedding will bring.)

Which brings me to my present dilemma. There's this guy at work who used to hate me, I'm sure of it. He pretty much told me to my face once, in a round-about way. I have no idea what I did to offend him, but I've been known to offend people unknowingly before, so I guess it's possible he may have been justified in hating me. His hatred of me caused me to dislike him, obviously, and I sort of wallowed in the dislike the way I am wont to do. We stayed away from each other and I was fine with the relationship remaining exactly as it was.

However, over the last few months, there has been a shocking turn of events: we've totally bonded, over of all things, video games.

He's a hardcore gamer and also, surprisingly sensitive (probably why I was able to unknowingly piss him off) and intelligent. He's not anyone who will become a lifelong friend, but it turns out, the kid is all right.

OK, so fine, we don't hate each other at work anymore. End of story, right? Nope. I mentioned to him a while ago that D and I like to have huge Halo parties at our house. And then I did something crazy: I INVITED HIM.

What the hell was I thinking? A co-worker at MY HOUSE? Meeting my REAL FRIENDS? And D's real friends? Seeing where I live? Where I sleep? Where I work? And it's not like we're that close; we pretty much only talk video games. (Wait, that's not true. He's told me a lot of other personal things that are going on in his life, actually. Argghh! It's complicated.)

I don't know what came over me. All I know is, we're having a Halo party tomorrow, and he's coming. Of course, I could always tell him the game is off, but... I don't know. I just don't feel right about that.

So I don't know. Part of me is like, relax, it's no big deal, have him over - you won't die. And the other part of me is like, you may regret it - he's got kind of an unpredictable personality and used to hate you only a few months ago. Also, it would probably be more fun with just the usual group. I'd be able to just enjoy the game and not baby sit anyone. So I'm not sure what I'm going to decide.