Great story. Been there, done that,...way too many times. If they gave out T-shirts for each one, I would have a closet full.
Getting one that close and then letting him get away really leaves a guy kicking himself. The elation of thinking you have won the contest,...and then having it slip away at the last second sends us instantaneously from one end of the emotional roller coaster to the other.
It's a hard pill to swallow at the time, but it is what keeps us all coming back for more!