Why not talk to to guy and be straight up with him about whats going on with AH? If he can't see why you don't want to be in a relationship right now, he never will.
Enjoy his company and see where things go. And yes, get the hell out of town to do it! All you need is for AH to get wind of it and make things even worse than he already has. You know this will turn around and bite you in the tush. You'll be blamed for everything because you wanted to be with another man. You're vulnerable right now, and speaking only for myself, I find myself attracted to other men who are only friends only because they are NORMAL...whatever that is.