The warm afternoon sunlight streams inside the doorway as I open the heavy metal door. I lean down and wedge the doorstopper into place before stepping outside onto the wooden deck. There is a soft wind rustling in the trees as I look around to the hills in the distance, the vision marred only some of the tall buildings of the downtown business core.
I sit down on the deck, in my familiar spot and grab my cigarettes. I bring one to my lips and glance over to the industrial scrap-metal business that backs onto our work property. I scan past the trees, look past the forklift and other heavy machinery in hopes of seeing him. But, not one worker is in view.
It started a few weeks ago, in the very same location. I had sat down for my morning cigarette break and I noticed him looking in my direction from where he stood over one hundred feet away. I thought nothing of it as I lit my cigarette and started to read my newspaper. Between stories, I looked up and noticed him look up from his work every so often to look at me. I smiled and secretly wondered whether he could see up my skirt from that angle.
Each break I took that day, he was there. Working away, casting glances as he did. I watched him as much as he watched me. My final break of the day, as I turned to walk inside, he lifted his arm and waved at me. Laughing, I waved back. Too shy to go over and talk to him, I simply played the game. I glanced, he glanced. He waved, I waved. I smiled, and then he would smile. Whenever I went out and he would show up, he usually made a noise that would make me look up from my reading, and our flirting would begin.
It continued each day until suddenly he wasn't there anymore. I still scanned each time I sat down for my cigarette, slightly disappointed he wasn't there for my pleasure. As silly as it was, our flirting across 100-feet was enjoyable, and I missed it.
Not seeing him again today, I strike a match and light my cigarette and the thoughts of him fill my brain. I don't even know his name, yet our rendezvous from across the yard have obviously affected me.
As I inhale, my mysterious partner emerges from behind the forklift. My heart skips a beat that he is there. Suddenly, I realize that he is not stopping at the stand where he keeps his beverage. He is walking towards me, smiling, slowly removing his hardhat and gloves as he does. I watch him as he walks slowly over to the bottom of the wooden fire escape where I sit.
"May I come up?" He says, smiling.
"Okay." I managed to stumble out.
