I sit across from my friend Annabelle. We have chosen a small table to the side of the sidewalk cafe that allow us to show off our long legs to pedestrians. I love the line of my lower thigh and calf as my legs emerge from my skirt. As fun as it is to distract passersby, mostly my friend and I enjoy each other's company. Most days we're the ones serving customers. It's nice to be the one being served.
Annabelle is delightful. Smart, funny. Annabelle also has a keen eye for a handsome man, yet is completely uncompetitive about attracting one. We've always been able to savor the finer specimens together.
I am talking about marketing her side hustle when Annabelle eyes dart behind me and her lips open. I can tell she's stopped listening. I follow her gaze to a man, clad in a bold blue suit with a bold purple shirt. He slows, smiles and nods to her and then turns his attention to me. His green eyes capture mine. I hold my breath. Suddenly his shoulder is smacked by a companion who smirks, "quit ogling" and beckons him on. He bows his head to me, nods to Annabelle and after a few moments is lost in the crowd.
I shake my head and look at Annabelle. She giggles. Annabelle points a finger at my chest. I look down and see that I'm red. I pick up my wine glass to see my reflection and realize that I've been blushing. Annabelle leans forward and whispers, "wouldn't it be great if they were all like that, huh?" I nod and sigh. I raise my glass towards her, and whisper, "Isn't that the truth."
We continue talking, coming up with a plan that Annabelle can start implementing in the morning before we start our day jobs. We move on to our love lives. Annabelle asks about my last date. I shrug my shoulders and sigh. I'm tired of cocky men who just want to talk, refuse to listen, and think they deserve my lips on the cock as reward for the "pleasure" of their company. I tell her, "I'm still looking", and ask about her boyfriend. Annabelle smiles and gushes about how he charmed her mother when they went home to visit. Her enthusiasm infects me, and suddenly I'm picturing those green eyes gazing into mine.
Annabelle beckons for the server to bring our bill. She comes towards us and tells us that it's been taken care of. Then she leans forward and whispers, "Well done. Well done." I realize that she's unbuttoned another button of her shirt. I glance at Annabelle. She shrugs. Another customer motions to our server and she is away.
We walk back inside the cafe seeking a familiar face that might have paid our bill. I assume it's Gavin, the Irish bartender that sometimes flirts with us. While I search Gavin out, I see HIM at the end of the bar. He's gazing our way, like he's been waiting for us. My legs have stopped responding. Annabelle bumps into my shoulder. Now we're both stationary as he glides towards us.
He stops before us, and asks Annabelle, "Pardon me, would you allow me to take your lovely friend away from you?" Annabelle blurts out, "Of course." She kisses my cheek and practically races out of the cafe.
He offers a hand. I place mine in his. He raises it to his lips and gently kisses my fingers. "My name is Conor. May I know your name."
"Olivia" I murmur.
"What I lovely name for a lovely woman. I realize you've just eaten, would you like to walk with me."
I nod. I feel like I'm dreaming. But it's a nice dream so I hope it will last longer before I realize I've napped at the cafe.
He leads me out of the cafe and then he stops. He turns to me and says, "I'm afraid I have little idea of where we should go. I've only been on this street and the next one since I arrived."
He looks suddenly unsure, almost hesitant.
I smile and slide my arm around his and guide him towards my favorite park. At first we talk quickly, maneuvering through where we're from, why he's here, what I like best about my home. By the time we reach the park, our pace has slowed, no longer driven by the need to know the basics, and not yet at ease to talk of more important matters.