Step 2: Play...Cards...Board Games...Anything That's Not a Screen

There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when you sit down at a table with a deck of cards, a handful of competitive personalities, and absolutely no distractions. No screens, no mindless scrolling—just laughter, strategy, and the subtle shifts in energy that only happen when people are fully present.

This is how I found myself playing Hearts with a group of tall, self-assured card sharks. The type of guys who carry themselves like they have never lost a game. The type who shuffle the deck with ease and confidence. The type who, despite themselves, absolutely cannot resist explaining the rules to you.

And that’s where the fun begins.

"Wait, so I don’t want the Queen of Spades? But what if I think she’s kind of pretty?"

Cue the collective sigh. The inevitable need to educate me. And, most importantly, the instinctual urge to pass me the cards I needed most.

It was effortless, unfolding in the way that the best moments do—without planning, without performance. He was dealing and made it very obvious that he intended to pass his 3 to me, by saying "ok, pass across now," and winking at me. I shook my head, smirking with a knowing smile. "Haha funny, giving me all your shit, are you?"

He passes me his 3 and I turn them over, realizing in an instant that he has given me his best cards. A laugh of surprise, joy and a tinge of guilt bursts out of me and in a barely audible whisper I say "Oh, shit!"

And just like that, something shifted.

Somewhere between the shuffle and the deal, between the laughter and the accidental brushing of hands, something delightful happens: suddenly, unexpectedly I felt special.

Not in the dramatic, love-at-first-sight kind of way. No, it was subtler than that. It was the simple joy of being noticed, being engaged with, being part of something lighthearted and fun. And, as I’d soon find out, it was enough to make him text the next day, setting up another game night.

Flirtation, my dear students, isn’t about calculated moves or rehearsed lines. It’s not about forcing moments; it’s about leaning into the natural ones, the ones that happen when you’re just having a damn good time.

And instead of getting offended when he mansplains, you can choose to smirk, let him have his moment, and return the favor in kind. Because, as it turns out, the game is even more fun when you play along. Sometimes, a simple game of Hearts and a little banter are exactly what you need.

Now, class, your assignment: Go forth. Find a table. Deal yourself in. And for the love of all things charming—put your phone away and play...