“I think we’re just continuing the strange moment of silence and staring we started the other night” he said while looking into her eyes as they ended the friendly handshake.
“Yes, and what are your thoughts about that and how often do you use that technique to get attention from strange women you meet on the street?” she asked as she positioned herself on the restaurant chair with a perfect shoulders back posture and fingertips of both hands holding her little purse on her lap.
Her stare was one of intense seriousness, but he suspected she was not really so cold and stiff as he looked her body up and down and then back into her eyes. He changed his posture to a more relaxed one and leaned back in his chair, one elbow on the table to support the arm as he placed his hand on his forehead and gradually slid it downward on his face and laughed aloud.
“Did I say something funny?” she asked.
“No, no! I just can’t believe this! You remind me of someone so much and I’m saying it as a compliment, ok?”
“Thanks for meeting me here. I can’t imagine all the trouble a guy, too busy to return a phone call, must have had to fit a lunch meeting into his schedule” she said as her eyes focused on her lifted right hand as she clicked her perfectly manicured nails together.
He wanted to laugh again, as her slight British-like accent, appearance, and gestures reminded him of someone, but he resisted in fear of offending her. He simply maintained his stare and curious smirk as he absorbed every detail of her and the moment. “Where are you from?” he asked. She replied “are you asking that because you expected me to talk like a ‘Detroiter’? I lived in England for 6 years.”
His stare continued as he said “Ahh, okay. I had you pegged as a Caribbean islander.” Then, they both realized at the same moment that a disappointed and impatient waitress had been standing near and waiting to take their order. He asked if she likes coffee and she shook her head back and forth slowly as she gazed downward at the menu. He then asked the waitress if they serve hot chocolate and they do, so he said he wanted that. The waitress asked “do you want whipped cream on it?” and he answered “No. I do like whipped cream on my coco, but none today thanks” and in the moment he finished the sentence he heard a cough echoing from inside her water glass as she exhaled water back into it. “Can I get water without ice please? Room temperature. And hot tea?” The even more disappointed waitress answered “surely dear” and walked away and the couple turned toward each other.
Now, he had a very big smile on his face as she looked into his eyes as he thought about all he had just seen. She smiled and blushed slightly, looked downward and said “what?” with a cute and soft voice. “I just can’t believe how much you remind me of someone, but I won’t mention it again. So, what are you doing in Detroit? You live here now?” “Not really, but I may stay until August, so I guess you could say I live here. Do you live here?” He answered “no, I work near here, but I live an hour or more north.” She then quickly asked “Did you ever date a black woman?” and his curious smirk grew into a huge smile and he returned to his relaxed position as he said “you could say I did.” “Hmm, interesting answer. And what happened?” He was thankful the waitress returned with the hot chocolate and tea in that moment to interrupt the conversation. The waitress was obviously almost to an angry level at this point as she realized they were not ready to order food yet and said she will return in a while. They then re-established eye contact for a moment and he broke it as his eyes turned downward and he stared at his hot chocolate he held with both hands and his smiling faced changed into one of regret for what he was about to say.
“Aren’t you even curious why I haven’t asked what your name is?” he asked and she replied “maybe you simply have no interest in knowing more about me.” He continued “No, it’s because I feel as though there is only one good answer to the question and it’s ridiculous. You remind me of someone so so much and it’s like I want you to be her and that’s not fair to you. In fact, it’s insane and I don’t know why I’m doing this. Thanks so much for meeting up with me here; you may never want to see or talk with me again, but…” and she interrupted “I haven’t said that. Don’t put words into my mouth. I’m a big girl who makes her own decisions” and he laughed again, except it was a kind of disgusted laugh as he almost spilled his hot chocolate. “See?? Even what you just now said was exactly something she would say and how she would say it! As I was saying, if we do meet again, what then? My best advice to you today, in care of you, is to leave here and never talk with me again. I have to advise that because I’m not capable of staying away from you if you are open to more between us. I know this all sounds crazy and I’m seriously questioning my own sanity right now. I was finally forcing myself to get over her and then you appeared. You’re beautiful and although we just met, I can see right through that hard exterior personality into your beautiful heart as well. I’m fine as I am. I messed up once and I’m likely to do it again. Don’t give me the chance, please.”
She then took a deep breath and sighed as she looked into his face and softly placed her hand on his “you are not the only one with such demons you know. And, you were not the only one to experience that strange moment we had outside the club the other night. I almost cancelled our plan to meet today because I became anxious and afraid of the unknown.” His wide-opened eyes were fully focused on her hand touching his, but then returned to staring into her eyes with no real expression on his face, but obviously in deep thought. She continued “we just met and yes, this is crazy, but we have to remove fear of the unknown from our lives. Living in fear is not living at all. We can use all of our challenges, pains, and life moments to create the life we always wanted.” She then stuttered a little and said “I mean, our personal lives. I was not trying to say we will have something together” and he smiled and said “don’t be such a perfectionist. I understood it correctly. Hey! Let us order some food and eat in front of each other as if we were lifetime friends, with no fear of being judged. Let’s pig out! Whatever comes next is up to the universe and I won’t try to control it.” She suddenly outburst with a half scream type of laugh and placed her hand over her mouth to continue giggling and said “that’s a good plan!”
They ordered food, ate, and talked for two hours as if they were the only ones in the restaurant. Finally, he realized the time and stated he needs to return to his office. Surprisingly, as they stood, she grabbed the bill on the table and said “I’ll get this one!” He wanted to demand that he pay the bill, but thought he would just flow with whatever happens today and said “Ok, now that is something she definitely would not have done” and they both laughed again as a surprising realization set in. They were only standing inches from each other and he felt an intense desire to kiss her. Her head moved forward slightly and the back again and his the same. Her lips appeared very soft and inviting and their connected stare seemed to answer the “should we?” of the moment. His hand began to reach for the back of her neck, but he suddenly redirected it to her shoulder, looked her in the eyes, and said “thanks for today.” Afterward, as they exited the restaurant he asked where she is parked and she said she doesn’t have a car and will use a taxi. It took all of his strength not to offer her a ride home in his car, but he succeeded and waited for a taxi with her. When it arrived he opened the door and assisted her comfortably into the back seat. He then said “ok, I’ll never miss the call again if you feel inclined to do so, and your name is…?”
But then again, I’m not sure what I should do if she does call.
