Page 21 of Perfect Date
I arrive early and this time, I boldly walk straight up to the bar and take a seat.
I’m early enough where I can enjoy a drink here first, before I take a seat at a table with plenty of time before T.J. is due to arrive.
“Back again, huh?” The girl working behind the bar says with little emotion.
“Uh, yeah. Me again,” I laugh uncomfortably.
“What can I get you tonight?”
“I’ll take a Manhattan, please.”
“Coming up,” she smiles blandly, then turns to make the drink.
Looking around, I notice that Justin isn’t anywhere that I can see. I don’t think much of it, not wanting to feel disappointed.
Not yet anyway.
Besides, he always seems to appear. Even at times I wish he wouldn’t.
“He’s not here right now,” the bartender says to me taking me off guard as she sets my glass in front of me making the smile of thanks fall from my face.
“What?” I ask automatically even though I heard her just fine.
Just as she opens her mouth to say who knows what, I realize she either lied or Justin just got here because I hear, “Well, well, well look who’s back. I mean, I knew you would be. I know your schedule now. Date night every Friday night, right?”
Looking at Justin as he stands before me, I can’t help but let my eyes travel from his trim waist, up his black button-down shirt that’s rolled up to his elbows, up over his muscular chest, strong neck, that killer smile, and straight into his mesmerizing eyes.
“Justin, you’re here too again, I see,” I say and can’t help but glance over at the bartender who told me he wasn’t. She has a look on her face I can’t quite decipher as she looks between the two of us.
My attention is quickly diverted when Justin asks, “Who are you bravely meeting tonight, sweetheart?” He smiles wide and places his elbows on the counter leaning toward me.
I’m so taken in by him it takes me a moment to answer his question. I’d be embarrassed if I thought about it too hard, but instead I answer, “A guy named T.J.”
“Ah, another dating site match up?”
“How do you know that?”
He smiles at me and shrugs, “When are you going to stop these stupid date site meet up’s and let me show you what a real date’s like, hm?”
“Ha, ha, very funny.”
His eyes seem to search my face and I don’t know what he’s looking for, but I can feel my hands clutch the bar in front of me. Each place his eyes land, it’s like he’s stoking a fire that’s simmering through my blood. I can’t figure out what it is that he does to me. Is this attraction? Infatuation? I do find him intriguing. All I know is that it feels visceral.
And I like it.
“Stop playing around with these boys, you’re just wasting your time.”
“Wasting my time, huh?”
“Yes. I’ll take you out, show you how this is supposed to go. Trust me, I won’t be playing with little cars, or wearing a clown nose, or doing whatever the hell tonight’s date is bound to do that’s just as ridiculous.”
“Hey! You’re going to jinx it. You don’t know. Maybe it will be great!” I don’t even believe it myself, to be honest, but I’ll be damned if I let him know where my mind is.
“What do you do, Charlie?”
“Huh?” My head spins at the sudden change in conversation. “Do?”
He chuckles, “What do you do for a living? How are you spending your time during the day and week before I see your gorgeous face here on Friday nights?”
