But what does 'DATING' mean, Derek?

If you delve back into the history of this blog, you'll find that I followed very closely the unusual relationship between arch-dancer Derek Hough and British pop singing superstar and delectable diva Cheryl Cole, who was bouncing back from a divorce from Chelsea football (soccer) star Ashley Cole.  It seemed to me that Derek was the more active partner, doing his best to get Cheryl to think of him as more than a friend (and perhaps at least raise him to the "friends with benefits" label.   But it was never clear if that happened, much to my voyeuristic chagrin.

Well, now it emerges that Derek in an interview reveals, finally, that he and Cheryl "dated".  In celeb-speak, "dating" usually is indicative of a sleepover relationship, in the good sense, and not just dinner, drinks, and dancing on the town.  (The paparazzi did catch them in a few moments of apparent intimacy, but most of the time, they didn't even hold hands when they went out!  That was strange.) Now, Derek is too much of a gentleman to ever reveal if he had his way with the lady, but as I stated on more than one occasion, I sure hope that he did.  And after her dangerous bout of malaria, after the doctor's released her from the imposed no-sex ban, I would have thought it quite kind of her to reward the man who saved her life, plausibly, with the truest act of thankfulness known to womankind, the carnal right to the carnal rite.

Well, I'll never know for sure.  But now at least I know they "dated".